Overview: Recent research reveals that Buddhist jhāna meditation and Christian speaking in tongues, despite their distinctive characteristics, engage a similar cognitive feedback mechanism. This interaction, termed the Attention, Arousal, and Release Spiral, fosters a cycle where concentrated focus generates joy, transforming the experience into one of effortless meditation and heightened immersion.

The research team compiled personal narratives from meditation retreats and worship gatherings, examining the subtle transitions in attention and emotional states. Initial findings related to brain activity indicate that both practices trigger a cognitive transition that enhances individual immersion.

Gaining insight into this shared cognitive process could facilitate wider access to profound states of focus and inner peace. The next stages of the study will utilize brain imaging techniques to investigate the physiological transformations that underlie this remarkable phenomenon.

Essential Takeaways:

• Overlapping Mechanism: Both jhāna meditation and speaking in tongues operate within a self-reinforcing loop of attention, joy, and release.
• Cognitive Transition: Early evidence suggests both spiritual practices induce mental shifts that promote deep focus.
• Upcoming Research: Brain imaging studies will explore the physiological changes associated with these experiences.

Source: McGill University

A new study indicates that Buddhist jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues share unexpected commonalities.

While one practice emphasizes tranquility and concentration, and the other is vibrant and expressive, both engage a shared cognitive feedback loop that cultivates deep joy and a sense of surrender.

Led by Michael Lifshitz, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University and Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, in collaboration with researchers from Monash University and the University of Toronto, the study identified the Attention, Arousal, and Release Spiral as a cognitive cycle that enhances both meditative and expressive states.

Published in the American Journal of Human Biology, these findings provide valuable insights into how individuals can cultivate deep states of concentration.

“By deepening our understanding of this process, it may be possible to assist more individuals in attaining profound levels of tranquility and happiness,” stated Lifshitz.

“Additionally, this research may foster a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness among various spiritual traditions. Despite differing beliefs, we share a common human experience.”

A Shared Path to Bliss

The researchers discovered that both jhāna meditation practitioners and those engaging in speaking in tongues experience a self-reinforcing cycle: they direct their focus towards an object—like the breath during meditation or a divine presence in prayer—instigating a feeling of joy.

This joy renders attention effortless, resulting in a sense of surrender that enriches the overall experience.

“To our knowledge, this dynamic spiraling process leading to profound and effortless joy is a new concept within psychological sciences,” remarked Lifshitz. “It’s intriguing that these diverse spiritual traditions have seemingly utilized this mechanism in their own unique ways.”

To explore this connection, the team gathered firsthand experiences from Buddhist meditation retreats and evangelical Christian worship services across the U.S., prompting participants to articulate the subtle transitions in their attention and emotional responses during practices. They also monitored participants’ brain activity.

While complete neurobiological results are still under review, initial data indicates that both practices facilitate cognitive shifts that yield deeply immersive experiences.

The subsequent phase of research will harness brain imaging to delineate the physiological changes associated with the unfolding process of attention, arousal, and release.

About the Research

“The Spiral of Attention, Arousal, and Release: A Comparative Phenomenology of Jhāna Meditation and Speaking in Tongues” by Josh Brahinsky, Jonas Mago, Mark Miller, Shaila Catherine, and Michael Lifshitz was published in the American Journal of Human Biology.

Funding: This study was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Templeton Foundation.

About This Neurotheological Research

Author: Keila DePape
Source: McGill University
Contact: Keila DePape – McGill University
Image: Credit: Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access.
“The Spiral of Attention, Arousal, and Release: A Comparative Phenomenology of Jhāna Meditation and Speaking in Tongues” by Michael Lifshitz et al. American Journal of Human Biology

Abstract

The Spiral of Attention, Arousal, and Release: A Comparative Phenomenology of Jhāna Meditation and Speaking in Tongues

While Buddhist jhāna meditation and Christian speaking in tongues seem vastly dissimilar on the surface, reflecting diverse ethical, theological, and historical contexts, they surprisingly converge in the consciousness states they can produce—one characterized by profound calmness and the other by intense emotional energy.

Interviews with seasoned practitioners across the U.S. reveal significant similarities. Those practicing in both traditions report a vital interplay between focused attention, elevated joy, and a sensation of release that they each regard as fundamental to their practice.

This study underscores these shared experiential traits and speculates about potential underlying cognitive mechanisms.

By evaluating our phenomenological data against various brain function theories, such as sensory gating and predictive processing, we propose that both practices engage an autonomic field shaped by the spiraling interplay of attention, arousal, and release (AAR).