Preliminary Insight on Neural Correlates of Quranic Impacts on Cognition: A Review

Abstract

Perception and synchronization of rhythms are vital for human health and social functioning, and cognition, which calls for rhythmic acoustic stimulation as a potential therapy. Quranic sound contains high energy and rhythmic structure of sound signal which has a soothing effect, comfort human feeling and evokes the limbic and reward systems. However, less is known about how the neural interaction between brain rhythms and sound rhythms. Here we review the Quranic listening effects on human cognition from the neuronal correlates perspective. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was used to review articles from no earlier than 2000 for scientific reports in the English language. Navigation terms used were ‘Quran and cognition’, ‘Quran and memory’ and ‘Quran and attention’. Nine papers were fulfilled our criteria and assessed. We discussed issues related to the neural correlations regarding Quranic impacts on cognition. Three main factors contribute to the effects of the Quranic listening on human cognition: linguistic rhythms, physical aspect, and neuroscientific aspect. The neuroscientific aspect delineated the brain activation due to brainwave entrainment, event-related desynchronization and synaptic plasticity, which were associated with attention, memory and speech fluency. Quranic recitation contains rhythmical sound and physical characteristics that interact with the human’s auditory system, producing changes in the brain oscillations and improving cognitive performance such as attention, memory and speech fluency. Instead of a conclusion, it is hoped that this review entices other researchers to explore further scientific and health benefits of the Holy Quran.