Single-case report: dynamic changes in cardiac function during shamanic journeying and Qigong meditation

IntroductionPrevious studies have demonstrated acute changes in brain activity that occur during shamanic journeying—an ancient spiritual practice used for physical, psychological, and spiritual healing. However, the effect of shamanic journeying on other physiological measures, such as heart rate variability, remains unknown. We investigated changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during sessions of shamanic journeying (n = 14) in a single subject, as well as during Qigong meditation (n = 8) in