Title : Temporal dynamics of brain activity during the PRISM™ method: A quantitative EEG study
Abstract:
Background: The PRISM™ Method is an integrative psychophysiological framework designed to facilitate nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and adaptive neuroplasticity through present-moment awareness, somatic perception, autonomic regulation, and experiential integration. Unlike purely cognitive approaches, PRISM conceptualizes personal transformation as a multidimensional interaction between brain activity, autonomic nervous system function, embodied awareness, and emotional processing. Although the theoretical foundations of the method are supported by contemporary research in neuroscience, interoception, neuroplasticity, and polyvagal theory, objective neurophysiological evidence remains limited. The present pilot study aimed to investigate cortical functional changes associated with a single PRISM intervention using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG).
Methods; Resting-state qEEG recordings were obtained immediately before and after a standardized PRISM™ session administered by a certified practitioner. Quantitative analyses included spectral power, frequency distribution, cortical topography, and comparison of oscillatory activity across delta (1–4 Hz), theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), SMR (12–15 Hz), beta1 (13–20 Hz), and beta2 (20–30 Hz) frequency bands. Changes in spatial distribution and functional organization of cortical rhythms were evaluated using topographic brain mapping.
Results: The PRISM intervention produced measurable neurophysiological changes across multiple frequency bands. The most prominent finding was enhanced alpha synchronization within parietal and occipital cortical regions, indicating increased cortical coherence and a relaxed but alert functional state. Theta activity demonstrated greater synchronization, suggesting enhanced internal attention, interoceptive awareness, and emotional integration. Mild increases in posterior delta activity were consistent with physiological relaxation without evidence of pathological slowing. Sensorimotor rhythm remained stable, indicating preserved sensorimotor regulation throughout the intervention. Simultaneously, frontal beta1 activity decreased, suggesting reduced cognitive load, diminished cortical hyperactivation, and more efficient executive processing, while beta2 activity remained physiologically balanced without evidence of stress-related hyperexcitability. Overall cortical topography demonstrated a transition toward a more homogeneous spatial distribution of neural oscillations, consistent with improved large-scale functional integration.
Conclusion: The observed qEEG findings suggest that the PRISM™ Method is associated with rapid functional reorganization of cortical activity characterized by increased alpha and theta synchronization, reduced frontal hyperactivation, and improved balance of large-scale neural networks. These changes are consistent with enhanced autonomic regulation, improved thalamocortical coordination, and increased efficiency of neural communication.
