Figure - available from: Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine
This content is subject to copyright.
Source publication
Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease. This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Sixty-two women and men (mean age 49.7 years) participated. As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation...
Similar publications
Background:
Although exercise has been shown to improve mood and well-being, the precise mechanism remains unknown. Neurosteroids are important neuroactive molecules with demonstrated involvement in several neurophysiological and disease processes. Previous research has noted neurosteroid changes in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels following e...
Citations
... While Omkar vibrations have been prominently featured in the discourse surrounding chakra activation, it is essential to compare their efficacy against other sound frequencies. Studies exploring the use of solfeggio frequencies, Tibetan singing bowls 24 , and binaural beats indicate that various sound modalities have therapeutic potential for chakra activation. However, Omkar's unique characteristics-a sacred resonance with cultural and historical significance-distinguish it. ...
This systematic review explores the effects of Omkar vibrations on chakra activation and the enhancement of psychic abilities. Rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, Omkar, or the sound of "Om," is considered a fundamental vibrational frequency that resonates with the universe and the human psyche. The review synthesizes existing literature on the physiological and psychological implications of sound vibrations, specifically focusing on their impact on the body's energy centers or chakras. By examining empirical studies, anecdotal evidence, and comparative analyses, the review aims to elucidate the relationship between Omkar vibrations and their role in facilitating chakra activation, which is believed to lead to an expansion of consciousness and an enhancement of psychic faculties. Key findings suggest that the practice of vocalizing the Omkar sound can significantly influence meditation outcomes, physiological responses, and subjective experiences related to psychic abilities. The review highlights the need for further research to rigorously assess and validate these effects, while also proposing methodological approaches for future investigations. This exploration contributes to the broader understanding of sound therapy and its potential applications in holistic healing and spiritual development.
... For the present study, two samples of singing bowls with a fundamental frequency of 73 Hz and 110 Hz were used as sound stimuli. It was found in prior studies that singing bowls have a significant effect on decreasing tension, anger, fatigue and depressed mood, while feelings of spiritual wellbeing increased significantly in all subjects [123]. On the other hand, Imbriani [124] hypothesised that it is the mechanical vibration emitted by the singing bowls that causes the relaxation effect and not the sound itself. ...
... Participants exposed to the frequency of 110 Hz felt particularly less sad, less uncertain about things and less unable to concentrate, while at the same time feeling more superb and more great, as depicted in Fig 16. These results are in line with the POMS2 results observed by Goldsby et al. [123] which show a significant reduction in post-treatment tense in participants in response to singing bowl sound, indicating the decrease of negative emotions with higher arousal. ...
Music and sounds evoke a wide range of emotions and activate numerous psychological and physiological effects. Since emotions involve the autonomic nervous system (ANS) associated with the maintenance of homeostasis, they play an important role in supporting human wellbeing. The aim of the present study is to further validate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between sound, emotions and homeostasis. To this end, the effects of spatial sound projection of two different singing bowls with fundamental frequencies at 73 Hz and 110 Hz were investigated by monitoring behavioural and emotional response in healthy subjects. Overall, we find that the spatial projection of singing bowl sounds elicits a highly significant increase in positive emotions. Exposure to both frequencies resulted in a significant improvement in emotional wellbeing and a significant reduction in negative emotions. We demonstrate frequency-dependent effects indicating a shift in arousal, where 73 Hz elicits feeling more wide awake while 110 Hz elicits sleepiness. These results indicate that non-invasive interventions, such as sound immersion with singing bowls, are effective means in restoring and maintaining homeostasis and underline the need for further research on the effect of discrete frequencies on human psychology and physiology, opening new perspectives on potential treatment of various disorders and conditions.
... Soft cues (Noises, 2024) -brown noise (e.g., the sound of a singing bowl being struck (Goldsby et al., 2017)), refers to gentle and subtle prompts or stimuli aimed at assisting the walker to maintain focus and mindfulness. They serve as reminders, often subliminal, to help walkers remain attentive and to prevent their thoughts from wandering. ...
Existing research has explored how walking can stimulate creativity through the rhythm of footsteps. Researchers have also studied the positive effects of various sounds on creativity and creative thinking. However, the effects and potential benefits on creativity of the combination of footsteps and sounds remain unexplored. To fill this gap, we designed a FSI framework which we call Footstep and Sound Interactions. FSI encompasses three modes - Footstep-driven Sound Stimulation (FSS), Sound-driven Footstep Regulation (SFR), and Random Footstep and Sound Interactions (RFSI). We then conducted a user study in indoor and outdoor environments which compares the effects of three FSI modes with a walking only condition. Our results indicate that: (1) The FSS mode demonstrated higher performance in body awareness and attention regulation in both indoor and outdoor environments; (2) the creativity scores of indoor participants were higher than those of outdoor participants; (3) The indoor FSS mode produced greater creativity compared to the indoor RFSI mode; (4) Participants in the indoor FSS mode showed a significant correlation between heart rate and cadence with creativity compared to other groups; etc. Based on the findings, we discuss the FSI framework, the effects of FSI related to attention and creativity in the context of the walking experience, and we also discuss design implications and future work for the investigation and development of interactive (Footstep and Sound) technologies aimed at enhancing creativity while walking.
... Human Brain Band Waves. The human brain EEG power spectrum is divided into at least five band waves that are classified, depending on their frequency expressed in hertz (Hz), as delta (1)(2)(3)(4), theta (4)(5)(6)(7)(8), alpha (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13), and beta (more than 13 Hz). Another category of very high frequencies is referred to as gamma waves. ...
... Human Brain Band Waves. The human brain EEG power spectrum is divided into at least five band waves that are classified, depending on their frequency expressed in hertz (Hz), as delta (1)(2)(3)(4), theta (4)(5)(6)(7)(8), alpha (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13), and beta (more than 13 Hz). Another category of very high frequencies is referred to as gamma waves. ...
Vibration and sound are the shaping matrix of the entire universe. Everything in nature is shaped by energy vibrating and communicating through its own sound trail. Every cell within our body vibrates at defined frequencies, generating its peculiar “sound signature”. Mitochondria are dynamic, energy-transforming, biosynthetic, and signaling organelles that actively transduce biological information. Novel research has shown that the mitochondrial function of mammalian cells can be modulated by various energetic stimuli, including sound vibrations. Regarding acoustic vibrations, definite types of music have been reported to produce beneficial impacts on human health. In very recent studies, the effects of different sound stimuli and musical styles on cellular function and mitochondrial activity were evaluated and compared in human cells cultured in vitro, investigating the underlying responsible molecular mechanisms. This narrative review will take a multilevel trip from macro to intracellular microenvironment, discussing the intimate vibrational sound activities shaping living matter, delving deeper into the molecular mechanisms underlying the sound modulation of biological systems, and mainly focusing our discussion on novel evidence showing the competence of mitochondria in acting as energy portals capable of sensing and transducing the subtle informational biofields of sound vibration.
... Gal & Elefant 6 over a period of three weeks in a rehabilitation center, there were significant changes in the patients, who reported feeling more balanced, less nervous, and less exhausted. Goldsby's (2017) study on the effects of sound meditation primarily via TBs also found a significant increase in positive mood and well-being. The participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood. ...
Tibetan bowls and monochords are millennia-old instruments used for spiritual and therapeutic purposes. In the last few decades, there has been growing interest in the use of these instruments in meditation and therapeutic settings. Nevertheless, they are still rarely used in music therapy in the Western world, either because of technical difficulties or musical or cultural biases. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the experiences of adults with mental health conditions and intellectual disabilities during sound meditation sessions using Tibetan bowls and a monochord. In this qualitative pilot, a group of six psychiatric inpatients participated in seven weekly sound meditation sessions over eight weeks that implemented Tibetan bowls and the monochord combined with meditation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after each session to capture participants’ reflections on their experiences. The interview data was analysed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged: physical sensations, experiences of emotions, and visual experiences. The sounds of the Tibetan bowls and the monochord helped participants relax and evoked a wealth of emotions and mental imagery. These findings suggest that using these instruments with adults with mental health conditions and intellectual disabilities can foster relaxation, as well as heighten their awareness of physical sensations, feelings, and previous life events. Music therapists can thus integrate Tibetan bowls and the monochord into their skillset and use them during treatment sessions.
... Other studies have reported states of deep relaxation after exposure to a 20-minute intervention with singing bowls [94,168], as well as lower subjective (but not objective) sleepiness [61,169]. An exposure duration of 30 minutes up to 1 hour induces a lower level of arousal, and a reduction in anxiety, tension, involuntary mental activity, physical pain and spiritual well-being [27,60,112,170]. In support of our findings, Panchal et al. [27] reported that during 40 minute singing bowls sound interventions, the overall stress level increases in the early part of the meditation and begins to reduce after about 15 minutes and continues the downward trend, consistent with other changes, e.g. an increasing trend in RMSSD, and a decrease of HR every 5-minute interval. ...
Music and sounds activate numerous physiological effects associated with the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and involved in the maintenance of homeostasis. As such, sound interventions can play an important role in supporting human wellbeing. Physiological responses are dependent on the sound type and frequency, as well as the spatial conditions and the presence of the subject in the acoustic environment. To arrive at a more articulate understanding of these dependencies, response of subjects (n=44) to sound reproduction of two different singing bowls with fundamental frequencies at 73 Hz and 110 Hz in spatial projection of nine different geometric shapes were monitored by acoustic and physiological measurement. Contrary to other studies, we find no discrete effects related to the sound type or frequency. Observed effects indicating focused attention, relaxation and improved homeostasis were consistently dependent on the combination of sound frequency and spatial condition. Notably, we observe that the 73 Hz stimulus induced significant changes in the Gamma band of Electroencephalography (EEG) in projection of a Tetrahedron and Cube, while the 110 Hz stimulus induced significant changes in the Theta and Beta bands for the same shapes. Discrete effects of spatial shapes were observed in the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) of subjects. Arousal was significantly decreased during projection of a Cube, Icosahedron and Dodecahedron and significantly increased during Pyramid, Tetrahedron and Sphere, regardless of the frequency. Discrete effects of stimulus duration were observed in GSR and Electromyography (EMG) of subjects, regardless of the frequency and spatial condition. Arousal and muscle tension were significantly increased during the first 15 minutes and decreased until 40 minutes of exposure. We observe highly significant deviations in projected sound waves in the presence of a subject. The localized amplitude difference of sound waves was highly correlated to localization and power of significant changes in brain activity of subjects, while the phase shift of sound wave frequency was predictive of the frequency of brain activity. Significant expressions of Heart Rate (HR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) of subjects were highly correlated to the mean, variability and standard deviation of amplitude difference and phase shift of the fundamental frequency and the average across frequencies. We present a model in the form of a transfer function that accurately predicts various physiological expressions in response to sound stimuli on the basis of observed sound wave deviations. We discuss the benefits of such a model and the future work necessary to develop the model to its full predictive capacity.
... Other studies have reported states of deep relaxation after exposure to a 20-minute intervention with singing bowls [94,168], as well as lower subjective (but not objective) sleepiness [61,169]. An exposure duration of 30 minutes up to 1 hour induces a lower level of arousal, and a reduction in anxiety, tension, involuntary mental activity, physical pain and spiritual well-being [27,60,112,170]. In support of our findings, Panchal et al. [27] reported that during 40 minute singing bowls sound interventions, the overall stress level increases in the early part of the meditation and begins to reduce after about 15 minutes and continues the downward trend, consistent with other changes, e.g. an increasing trend in RMSSD, and a decrease of HR every 5-minute interval. ...
Music and sounds activate numerous physiological effects associated with the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and involved in the maintenance of homeostasis. As such, sound interventions can play an important role in supporting human wellbeing. Physiological responses are dependent on the sound type and frequency, as well as the spatial conditions and the presence of the subject in the acoustic environment. To arrive at a more articulate understanding of these dependencies, response of subjects (n=44) to sound reproduction of two different singing bowls with fundamental frequencies at 73 Hz and 110 Hz in spatial projection of nine different geometric shapes were monitored by acoustic and physiological measurement. Contrary to other studies, we find no discrete effects related to the sound type or frequency. Observed effects indicating focused attention, relaxation and improved homeostasis were consistently dependent on the combination of sound frequency and spatial condition. Notably, we observe that the 73 Hz stimulus induced significant changes in the Gamma band of Electroencephalography (EEG) in projection of a Tetrahedron and Cube, while the 110 Hz stimulus induced significant changes in the Theta and Beta bands for the same shapes. Discrete effects of spatial shapes were observed in the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) of subjects. Arousal was significantly decreased during projection of a Cube, Icosahedron and Dodecahedron and significantly increased during Pyramid, Tetrahedron and Sphere, regardless of the frequency. Discrete effects of stimulus duration were observed in GSR and Electromyography (EMG) of subjects, regardless of the frequency and spatial condition. Arousal and muscle tension were significantly increased during the first 15 minutes and decreased until 40 minutes of exposure. We observe highly significant deviations in projected sound waves in the presence of a subject. The localized amplitude difference of sound waves was highly correlated to localization and power of significant changes in brain activity of subjects, while the phase shift of sound wave frequency was predictive of the frequency of brain activity. Significant expressions of Heart Rate (HR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) of subjects were highly correlated to the mean, variability and standard deviation of amplitude difference and phase shift of the fundamental frequency and the average across frequencies. We present a model in the form of a transfer function that accurately predicts various physiological expressions in response to sound stimuli on the basis of observed sound wave deviations. We discuss the benefits of such a model and the future work necessary to develop the model to its full predictive capacity.
... While growing in scope, there is still relatively very little scientifc research on the physiological efects of sound medicine and most studies that explored its efects focused on behavioral evidence. For example, following sound meditation participants reported signifcantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood, while feeling of spiritual well-being signifcantly increased [61]. Sound meditation was reported to result in signifcant efects of items such as physical relaxation, imagery, inefability and positive mood across both live and recorded sessions [62]. ...
... However, it has been found that diferent types of meditation as well as diferent types of neurofeedback result in a variance of brainwave activity patterns [137,138]. It is reasonable to assume that GS activates the brain diferently compared to methods related to silence, while achieving similar results of increased relaxation, sense of focus, selfawareness, positive emotional and physical function [30,[61][62][63][64][65]. We speculate that the positive efect of relaxation following regular meditation and mindfulness practice, also found to result in improved immune function [100], would sustain with continued exposure to GS. ...
This study introduces Geometric Sound as a subfield of spatial sound featuring audio stimuli which are sonic holograms of mathematically defined 3D shapes. The effects of Geometric Sound on human physiology were investigated through EEG, heart rate, blood pressure, and a combination of questionnaires monitoring 50 healthy participants in two separate experiments. The impact of Geometric Sound on Faraday wave pattern morphology was further studied. The shapes examined, pyramid, cube, and sphere, exhibited varying significant effects on autonomic nervous system markers, brainwave power amplitude, topology, and connectivity patterns, in comparison to both the control (traditional stereo), and recorded baseline where no sound was presented. Brain activity in the Alpha band exhibited the most significant results, additional noteworthy results were observed across analysis paradigms in all frequency bands. Geometric Sound was found to significantly reduce heart rate and blood pressure and enhance relaxation and general well-being. Changes in EEG, heart rate, and blood pressure were primarily shape-dependent, and to a lesser extent sex-dependent. Pyramid Geometric Sound yielded the most significant results in most analysis paradigms. Faraday Waves patterns morphology analysis indicated that identical frequencies result in patterns that correlate with the excitation Geometric Sound shape. We suggest that Geometric Sound shows promise as a noninvasive therapeutic approach for physical and psychological conditions, stress-related disorders, depression, anxiety, and neurotrauma. Further research is warranted to elucidate underlying mechanisms and expand its applications.
... • Meditación con cuencos tibetanos (Goldsby et al., 2016): Los participantes se sientan o acuestan cómodamente y cierran los ojos. El terapeuta toca suavemente un cuenco tibetano, creando vibraciones que resuenan en todo el espacio. ...
... En línea con las conclusiones de estudios previos, se espera que este enfoque combinado facilite la relajación, mejore la concentración, y fomente la empatía, la comunicación y la autocompasión(Brown y Gerbarg, 2005;Khalfa et al., 2003;De l'Etoile, 2002;Klassen et al., 2008). Además, se anticipa que nuestra propuesta pueda contribuir al manejo del estrés y la ansiedad en la vida cotidiana de los participantes, tal como se ha demostrado en estudios anteriores que han utilizado intervenciones similares(Streeter et al., 2012;De Witte et al., 2020).En referencia a estudios más recientes, como aquellos realizados porGoldsby et al. (2016),Hutcherson et al. (2008), yKoch et al. (2019), nuestro planteamiento busca igualmente promover la conexión emocional y el autoconocimiento, elementos cruciales para el manejo efectivo del estrés y la ansiedad. Así, la presente propuesta de intervención se encuentra alineada con los avances más recientes en la investigación en el campo de la musicoterapia y el mindfulness.En este sentido, se estima que los resultados obtenidos de la propuesta de intervención, una vez implementada y evaluada, permitirán aportar evidencia empírica relevante en el campo de la musicoterapia y el mindfulness y su impacto en el manejo del estrés y la ansiedad.Por tanto, esta propuesta representa una contribución valiosa al cuerpo de conocimientos existentes y un punto de partida para futuras investigaciones. ...
El estrés y la ansiedad son problemáticas prevalentes de salud mental que han demostrado una respuesta efectiva a la musicoterapia y el mindfulness cuando se aplican por separado. Este trabajo presenta una propuesta de intervención que combina ambas técnicas con el objetivo de potenciar sus beneficios. La propuesta consiste en sesiones grupales de 90 minutos dirigidos a un público entre ocho y doce participantes durante un seguimiento de ocho semanas. Sesiones conducidas por profesionales especializados en musicoterapia y mindfulness. Se espera que la propuesta pueda resultar en una disminución significativa del estrés y la ansiedad en los participantes. La implementación de esta intervención podría aportar datos empíricos sobre la eficacia de la combinación de musicoterapia y mindfulness en el tratamiento del estrés y la ansiedad, contribuyendo así a la optimización de futuras intervenciones en este campo.
... In terms of instruments, several participants mentioned gongs, Tibetan singing bowls and crystal bowls after following the links provided in the handout. These instruments have unique sound vibrations and, from ancient times, healing aspects of sound have been reported [94,95]. Sound as a physical phenomenon can "create the optimal resonance between the vibrations of the singing bells and the vibrations of the specific receiver" [94]. ...
Mental wellness can be related to healthier living, the learning process and working environments for people in the university community. A wide range of mental wellness programmes have been explored to provide students with pleasant and satisfying experiences. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of integrating Zen meditation and music listening on the mindfulness and happiness levels of university music therapy students. A qualitative methodology was used, and data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews. To investigate various aspects of data regarding the role of the meditation and music (MM) programme for mindfulness and happiness, this study used thematic analysis within a qualitative research design. The findings of this study suggest that the 8-week Mindfulness Meditation (MM) programme is a potential approach for enhancing mindfulness, happiness and stress management. These results carry broader implications, particularly in terms of supporting mental health resources in higher education. Furthermore, the study contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the positive impact of combining meditation and music to promote mental well-being. This integrated approach has the potential to strengthen coping strategies and further promote the integration of music and meditation practices in various contexts, including higher education.
