Electroencephalographic measurement of possession trance in the field

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology 2002-03, Vol.113 (3), p.435-445
• Main Authors: Oohashi, Tsutomu, Kawai, Norie, Honda, Manabu, Nakamura, Satoshi, Morimoto, Masako, Nishina, Emi, Maekawa, Tadao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alpha Rhythm; Biological and medical sciences; Ceremonial Behavior; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electroencephalography - instrumentation; Electroencephalography - methods; Field recording; Humans; Indonesia; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system; Portable electroencephalogram recording system; Possession trance; Religion and Medicine; Reproducibility of Results; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Spectral analysis; Spirituality; Spontaneous electroencephalogram; Telemetry - instrumentation; Telemetry - methods; Theta Rhythm; Topography; Videotape Recording
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/S1388-2457(02)00002-0

Objectives: To verify the utility of a portable electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement system developed for investigating spontaneous EEG from vigorously moving healthy subjects in a possession trance under a natural condition. Methods: A portable multi-channel EEG telemetry system was developed to record the EEGs of 3 healthy male Balinese while they were performing a ritual dedicatory drama in the field. After reducing extraneous artifacts using a digital filter, the EEGs and their power spectra were analyzed in terms of evolution from one state to another. Results: During the drama, one of the subjects became possessed while the others did not. The EEG of the possessed subject did not show any pathological findings including epileptic discharges, but indicated enhanced power in the theta and alpha frequency bands during the trance. This finding was not observed in the other two subjects, who did not go into trances, with no pathological EEG findings. Conclusions: The measurement system and data analysis methods we developed have allowed us, for the first time, to obtain an EEG from healthy subjects who are vigorously moving while in a possession trance. The present technique enables us to use a spontaneous EEG as a marker of the underlying physiology of a state of possession trance.