Unravelling The Tonal Effect: A Cross-Religious Analysis Of Verse Recitations In Neuropsychiatric Therapy

This study examines whether the specific religious content of a verse remains influential when the recitation’s tonality is held constant. Adults with mild-to-moderate neuropsychiatric disorders listened to two distinct religious verses (R1, R2) delivered in the same tonality (T1). Participants’ mood and physiological metrics (HRV, optional EEG/cortisol) were measured before and after each session to evaluate therapeutic impact. The study aimed to isolate differences attributable to verse content rather than acoustic properties using a counterbalanced design. Results showed significant improvements in mood and HRV following R1-T1 and R2-T1 exposures, yet minimal statistical difference emerged between the two verses. This suggests tonal qualities, rather than religious text or semantic meaning, primarily drive the observed therapeutic benefits. The findings support the development of tonality-focused interventions for individuals with neuropsychiatric conditions, offering a culturally inclusive alternative that does not rely solely on specific doctrinal content. This research was carried out at the Kashmir Advanced Scientific Research Centre (KASRC), Cluster University, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.