Poster No:
2046
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Brock Pluimer1, Alessandra Anzolin2, Apeksha Sridhar3, Richard Harris4
Institutions:
1University of California, Irvine, Fullerton, CA, 2Massachussetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 3University of California, Irvine, San Diego, CA, 4University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Shamanic healing practices using repetitive drumming have been utilized across cultures for thousands of years (Eliade, 1964). Within these traditions, Core Shamanism (CS), combines universal shamanic elements without incorporating specific cultural practices (Harner, 1990). Currently, the scientific investigation of CS remains limited, with only one clinical trial demonstrating significant pain reduction in temporomandibular disorder patients (Vuckovic et al., 2007, 2012). Recently, electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings of shamanic practitioners identified distinct neurological changes during drumming sessions, similar to those of meditative states (Huels et al., 2021). These findings are particularly relevant for fibromyalgia (FM) patients as music interventions have shown promise in reducing FM pain (Onieva-Zafra et al., 2013). To better understand both the neurobiological basis and the influence of therapeutic alliance between patient and practitioner during shamanic healing periods, we scanned FM patients and shamanic practitioners simultaneously using a multi-session EEG hyperscanning paradigm.
Methods:
We randomly assigned five female participants diagnosed with FM to one of three experienced SPs for five treatment sessions over eight weeks.
During the first (V1) and final (V5) sessions, we collected simultaneous EEG recordings from both the FM participant and SP using Brain Products 32-channel water-based nets, configured according to the International 10-20 system. These sessions include resting-state measurements (eyes open and closed), followed by exposure to, control classical music, and CS drumming music. During the drumming period, SPs engaged in healing practices. We assessed clinical pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during and after each session. Our initial EEG data analysis focused on two primary measures frontal theta power and gamma power. All EEG data processing and analysis was conducted in EEGLAB. EEG data were sampled at 500hz, bandpass filtered from 1-45hz, and re-referenced to the average. Independent component analysis was performed using EEGLAB's ICA toolbox with ocular and motion artifacts manually removed. All procedures were video recorded and were conducted at the University of California, Irvine using an approved IRB protocol.
Results:
Average Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores between Visit 1 (V1) and Visit 5 (V5) decreased from 6.17/5.17 to 3.67/3.33 (pre/post treatment). EEG analysis comparing V1 to V5 showed minimal changes across EEG standard frequency bands. However, frontal theta power (4-8 Hz) in patients increased during shamanic drumming at V5 (mean ± std, 1.6 ± 0.8 μV²/Hz) compared to V1 (mean ± std, 1.3 ± 0.3 μV²/Hz), while remaining unchanged during classical music periods. Analysis of frontal channel groups during V1 only (n=5 dyads) demonstrated that practitioners exhibited power values (μV²/Hz) approximately twice that of patients across delta (1-4 Hz), high alpha (10-13 Hz), and low beta (13-20 Hz) bands, but showed a fivefold increase in gamma power (30-45 Hz) during shamanic drumming.
Conclusions:
Preliminary results from our pilot study demonstrate a meaningful reduction in pain VAS scores over the course of Core Shamanism treatment, with a reduction of approximately half between the first and fifth visits. Notably, patients showed increased frontal theta power during shamanic drumming, but not while listening to classical music, at the final visit compared to baseline. The observed increased gamma power among practitioners during shamanic drumming, showing a fivefold elevation compared to patients, aligns with our previous findings (Huels et al., 2021), supporting the consistency of neural markers during shamanic states of consciousness. These initial findings suggest potential therapeutic benefits of CS for fibromyalgia pain while providing neurobiological evidence of distinct practitioner and patient states during treatment.
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Social Interaction
Higher Cognitive Functions:
Music
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
EEG 2
Perception, Attention and Motor Behavior:
Perception: Pain and Visceral 1
Keywords:
Consciousness
Electroencephaolography (EEG)
Pain
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Please indicate below if your study was a "resting state" or "task-activation” study.
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Healthy subjects only or patients (note that patient studies may also involve healthy subjects):
Patients
Was this research conducted in the United States?
Yes
Are you Internal Review Board (IRB) certified?
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Yes, I have IRB or AUCC approval
Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel?
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No
Please indicate which methods were used in your research:
EEG/ERP
Neuropsychological testing
Which processing packages did you use for your study?
Brain Voyager
Provide references using APA citation style.
1. Eliade M. (1964). Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton University Press; 1964:610.
2. Harner M. (1990). The Way of the Shaman. Harper and Row.
3. Huels E.R. (2021). Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness. Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:610466. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.610466
4. Onieva-Zafra M.D. (2013). Effect of music as nursing intervention for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Pain Manag Nurs. Jun 2013;14(2):e39-46. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2010.09.004
5. Vuckovic N.H. (2007). Feasibility and short-term outcomes of a shamanic treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders. Altern Ther Health Med. Nov-Dec 2007;13(6):18-29.
6. Vuckovic N.H. (2012). Long-term outcomes of shamanic treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders. Perm J. Spring 2012;16(2):28-35. doi:10.7812/tpp/12-004
No