Data for an Experimental Study of Gong Meditation and Anxiety

This experimental study explored the possible correlation between gong meditation and trait anxiety. 26 Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (Tx) treatment group listened to an 11-minute recorded gong meditation daily for 2 weeks, (WS) active control group listened to an 11-minute recording of water sounds in nature for 2 weeks, (C) true control group went about activities of daily living for 2 weeks. Trait anxiety was measured pre- and post-study using the State Trait Anxiety for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA, trait scale). EEG was measured pre- and post-study using an EEG headset. HRV was measured pre- and post-study using devices from the HeartMath Institute. Levels of Hypnotic Trance were measured post-study only using the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI).
Trait anxiety in the Tx group showed a statistically significant reduction in STICSA trait values as compared to the WS group and both control groups combined. Hypnotic trance showed a statistically higher PCI HSS value as compared to WS group. Biological measures were inconsistent and not significant.
The study was not sufficiently populated for the findings to be definitive. However, statistically significant reduction in trait anxiety in the Tx group compared to the WS group and all controls combined merits further study.

本实验研究探讨了颂钵冥想（gong meditation）与特质焦虑之间的潜在关联。研究共纳入26名被试，采用随机分配原则将其分为三组：（Tx）治疗组：每日聆听一段11分钟的颂钵冥想录音，持续2周；（WS）积极对照组：每日聆听一段11分钟的自然水声录音，持续2周；（C）空白对照组：维持日常活动2周。特质焦虑采用《认知与躯体焦虑状态-特质问卷（特质版，State Trait Anxiety for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety, STICSA）》在实验前后分别测评；脑电信号采用EEG头戴式采集设备在实验前后分别记录；心率变异性（Heart Rate Variability, HRV）采用心数研究所（HeartMath Institute）的相关设备在实验前后分别测量；催眠恍惚程度仅在实验后采用《意识现象学问卷（Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory, PCI）》进行测评。
相较于WS组与两组空白对照组的合并数据，Tx组的特质焦虑STICSA特质量表得分出现了具有统计学意义的显著降低。相较于WS组，Tx组的催眠恍惚程度对应的PCI-HSS得分显著更高。生物学指标的测量结果则不一致且无统计学显著性。
本研究的样本量不足以使研究结论具备确定性，但相较于WS组及所有对照组的合并数据，Tx组的特质焦虑得分出现统计学意义上的显著降低，这一结果仍值得开展进一步的深入研究。