biostudies-literatureLee KCGBuddhist Chaplaincy and Counselling Research and Knowledge Exchange ProjectLi Ka Shing Foundation1213https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12466501biostudies-literatureUnknown15(9)<h4>Background</h4>Intuitive inquiry meditation (Can-Hua-Tou) is a unique mental practice which differs from relaxation-based practices by continuously demanding intuitive inquiry. It emphasizes the doubt-driven self-interrogation, also referred to as Chan/Zen meditation. Nonetheless, its electrophysiological signature remains poorly characterized.<h4>Methods</h4>We recorded 128-channel EEG from 20 male Buddhist monks (5-28 years Can-Hua-Tou experience) and 18 male novice lay practitioners (<0.5 year) during three counter-balanced eyes-closed blocks: Zen inquiry meditation (ZEN), a phonological control task silently murmuring "A-B-C-D" (ABCD), and passive resting state (REST). Power spectral density was computed for alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (12-30 Hz) and gamma (30-45 Hz) bands and mapped acrBehavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)Neural Pattern of Chanting-Driven Intuitive Inquiry Meditation in Expert Chan Practitioners.PMC12466501260009171AR120019Sik HHSun RWu BWYLee KCGGao JLeung HKfalseNeural Pattern of Chanting-Driven Intuitive Inquiry Meditation in Expert Chan Practitioners.<h4>Background</h4>Intuitive inquiry meditation (Can-Hua-Tou) is a unique mental practice which differs from relaxation-based practices by continuously demanding intuitive inquiry. It emphasizes the doubt-driven self-interrogation, also referred to as Chan/Zen meditation. Nonetheless, its electrophysiological signature remains poorly characterized.<h4>Methods</h4>We recorded 128-channel EEG from 20 male Buddhist monks (5-28 years Can-Hua-Tou experience) and 18 male novice lay practitioners (<0.5 year) during three counter-balanced eyes-closed blocks: Zen inquiry meditation (ZEN), a phonological control task silently murmuring "A-B-C-D" (ABCD), and passive resting state (REST). Power spectral density was computed for alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (12-30 Hz) and gamma (30-45 Hz) bands and mapped acr2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-11T03:11:32.349Z2026-06-11T03:08:01.564ZS-EPMC124665014100924210.3390/bs15091213