Answer to Question 1
Carrington (2007) argues that there is suggestive research that mantra meditation leads to a greater balance between the two cerebral hemispheres. In most right-handed people, the left hemisphere is most responsible for analytical, logical, deductive thinking and the right hemisphere for holistic intuitive thinking. During our everyday activities the left hemisphere is often dominant, but as discussed earlier, during meditation the right hemisphere plays a more dominant role. Therefore, with repeated meditation experiences, we strengthen the role of the right hemisphere, which ultimately leads to a greater balance of the hemispheres. According to Carrington, this balance contributes to the therapeutic effects of meditation.
Answer to Question 2
According to rhythm theory, natural rhythms are soothing, comforting, and relaxing. The rhythm of the mantra or of our own biological processes that we experience more fully during meditation, such as drawing our breath and then releasing it creates feelings of relaxation. In fact, focusing on one's breathing is a component of many forms of meditation. It is well known by parents that distressed infants can be comforted by rocking them or engaging them in some form of rhythmic activity. Many forms of music we listen to are relaxing due to their repetitious or rhythmic patterns. Chants and rhythmic word patterns can also have trance inducing properties. Therefore, mantra meditation may achieve its relaxation effects by tuning us in to natural rhythms we are biologically programmed to find soothing.
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