EDCO 711 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2025.docx

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

Annotated Bibliography

Submitted to

Ratha Zeidan-Lukacs

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of

EDCO 711-D01

Rhonda Lee Wright

July 6, 2025

Alexandra D. Crosswell, email the author, S. E. (2024). Deep rest: an integrative model of how

contemplative practices combat stress and enhance the body’s restorative capacity.

APAPsychNet, 247-270.

The article titled "Deep Rest," Alexandrea D. Crosswell (2024), explores the body's

response to stress and the use of contemplative practices such as prayer and meditation. The

author references several research studies, including the mindfulness-based therapy model.

“The article examines various practices, including yoga, Hindu prayer, Christian prayer, and

Western cultural approaches to rest and meditation” (p. 247). The author identifies several

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stress responses of the central nervous system, the effects of stress, and the impact that rest

has on the human mind and body.

“Participants in the research were observed in states of rest within natural

environments, such as at work, at home, or while engaging in community activities”(p. 251).

The article is structured in three sections, using both ordinal and nominal analysis. According to

the author, these sections are titled progressively as follows:

1. "Stress processes in an individual’s daily life,"

2. "The result of stress processes is energetically costly," and

3. "Perceiving safety to shift away from stress: Parasympathetic dominance as a key

mechanism of the benefits of contemplative practices" (pp. 247–270).

Baig, M. H. (2024). The effects of the contemplative practices of prayer and meditative practices

on neuroplasticity. Astra Stem Research Journal, 1-6.

The article “ The effects of the contemplative practices of prayer and meditative practices on

neuroplasticity.” Describes how the human brain develops and the restructuring of the

neuropathways through the activity of contemplative prayer and meditation. Several articles on

the restructuring of the brain have addressed the change in brain structure as a result of

contemplative practices without understanding how the brain is restructured through

meditative engagement. The authors of this article appear to acknowledge God as the creator

of all things in and above the Earth. The Lord has the power to restore and renew the human

mind, body, and spirit. Baig explores the biological components of human behavior, the

psychological, and human functioning, shaping human actions and human responses.

“Neuroplasticity is defined as the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response

to intrinsic or extrinsic factors by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections.” Baig

(2024). The Lord Adonai created all things in and outside of the Earth. He formed man from the

dust and breathed His breath into Man, who became a living soul. Adonai’s heart desires to

spend eternity with all of Mankind; therefore, when mankind spends time in His presence,

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Adonai can restore, repair, and renew all areas of the physical and spiritual body to be in

alignment with Adonai’s presence. Baig (2024), “Prayer encompasses many different practices

which include meditation, deep thought, and certain physical movements to demonstrate one’s

submission to a superior being or particular way of life” (p. 4). Christians adopt various positions

during prayer, such as raising hands, kneeling, lying down, and sitting, to name a few.

Muslims typically kneel on a prayer mat, performing a series of steady movements that

involve raising and lowering themselves. Additionally, individuals may engage in prayer and

meditation through practices like yoga. These types of prayer or meditation often involve deep

breathing and mindfulness, which help regulate blood flow, neurochemical distribution, and

heart rate.

D.N.P., M. L. (2018). Neurophysiological benefits of worship. The Journal of The Biblical

Foundations of Faith and Learning, 1-9.

All believers are called to worship, and according to D.N.P. (20216), “1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

instructs believers to rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing” (p. 1). The article

“Neurophysiological benefits of worship” speaks of the use of prayer, worship, and reverence for

the Lord Almighty. The author references Job as a way to help his readers understand how

worship develops the neurological pathways of the Human brain. He mentions that when Job

was faced with overwhelming stress and became distressed, his response was impeccable. Due

to developing a habit of prayer and worship provides an example to the modern-day believer.

D.N.P. (20216) mentions different areas and chemicals of the human brain, such as “Dopamine,

the Limbic system, the frontal lobe” ( p. 5). He mentions the positive effects of prayer and

worship on these specific areas of the brain.

He goes on to say, “ The most exciting finding related to prayer was found by Andrew

Newberg, a radiologist who first began to study the effects of prayer on the individual using a

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)” (p. 6). “During Newberg’s studies, the

researchers found quantifiable changes in brain volume and metabolism in two distinct

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structures” (p. 7). The participants who volunteered reported a sense of calmness, focus, and

emotional stability.

Hagerty, B. B. (2009). Prayer may reshape your brain ... and your reality. The Science Of

Spirituality, 1-10.

It can be said that science and religion are not intertwined; they are separate fields of

interest. This writer would have to disagree with those who have done research in both areas.

Adonai is the creator of all. He gives Mankind wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to

become imaginative, creative, and inquisitive in all things about the Earth and its development.

According to Hagerty (2009), “Scientists are making the first attempts to understand spiritual

experience and what happens in the brains and bodies of people who believe they connect with

the divine” (p. 1). Scientists have realized that those who spend hours of time in prayer have a

significantly different brain structure. This author also mentions the findings of Andrew

Newberg, who has written several books on neurological reconstruction through prayer and

meditation. Hagerty mentions his own experience with an encounter with the Lord Almighty

and recognizing an internal change in his thinking, speaking, and emotional intelligence after

practicing what some would call foolish and a waste of time.

The Lord is a Holy God; He is a righteous God; He is not beneath; He is the First and the

Last. Therefore, He is the science, the Lord is a Genius of all minds. He did not need to use a

hypothesis or random samples, clusters, or independent variables to obtain a dependent

variable to formulate a null hypothesis and determine if he had committed an alpha or beta

error. No, the Lord Adonai is the beginning and the end, and all He needed to do was speak and

form Mankind into His image.

Newberg, A. &. (2009). How God changes your brain: breakthrough findings from a leading

neuroscientist. New York: Balltine Books.

This article, “How God changes your brain: Breakthrough findings from a leading

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Neuroscientist” (Newberg, 2009). Speaks on a great neurologist by the name of Andrew

Newberg. He discovered that individuals who spend time in prayer and meditation appear to

develop a sense of wholeness and a stronger belief system in the supernatural. Although most

speak of religion, there is a deeper meaning behind prayer and meditation. Spirituality is more

about having a personal relationship with the Lord Adonai. Newberg realized as a scientist the

meaning behind human development and how the Lord purposed Mankind to share in having a

personal experience with Him alone. According to Newberg (2009), “ The authors have

contended that meditation is effective with or without a single paragraph of scripture” (p. 4).

Upon discovering their findings, they realized the brain has the power to message all other

internal organs so the entire physical and psychological being can heal and care for itself as God

intended.

Silvia E Kober 1, 2. M. (2023). Ability to gain control over one’s own brain activity and its relation

to spiritual practice: A multimodal imaging study. National Institutes of Health,

1-12.

This article on “Ability to gain control over one’s brain activity and its relation to spiritual

practice: A multimodal imaging study” by Silvia E. Kober (2023), The authors’ conducted a study

of a small random sample where all the “participants underwent structural magnetic resonance

imaging ( MRI) and one session of sensorimotor rhythm (SMR, 12-15 Hz) based NF training.

Individuals who reported a high frequency of prayer showed improved neurofeedback (NF)

performance compared to individuals who reported a low frequency of prayer and meditation”

(p. 1). The participants were able to control how often and how long they chose to pray.

Researchers observed the brain's activity when prayer was increased, and a low frequency

during low engagement with prayer.

It is astounding how the human brain can restructure itself while providing the body

with the right amount of chemicals to supply it with the necessary nutrients, control the central

nervous system, and enhance emotional, intellectual, and psychological abilities to make up the

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entire person. According to Silvia (2023), “ In contrast, participants who prayed regularly

showed a negative association between gray matter volume in the left medial orbitofrontal

cortex, Brodmann’s area (BA), and in NF performance” (p. 5) due to the amount of time spent in

prayer.

Ueda, S. (2024). The neurobiological link between prayer, breath control, and serotonin release.

International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 629-646.

This article on “The neurobiological link between prayer, breath control, and serotonin

release.” Ueda (2024, p. 629), Ueda S. shares that there is a strong connection between prayer

and spiritual well-being, and those in the mental health field have been intrigued by their

finding through research. There is a growing interest in understanding the neurobiological

mechanism” (p. 629). This article addresses other areas of the brain that are affected through

the engagement of prayer and meditation. “The parasympathetic nervous system, breath

control during prayer, induces a relaxation responses that modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-

adrenal (HPA) axis and enhances serotonin production” (p. 629). The authors appear to address

the medical effects of prayer and meditation, specifically their association with regulating

gastrointestinal function and modulating serotonin levels. The authors determined that the

changes that were facilitated through relaxation and soothing of the muscles contribute to

enhancing an automatic balance and stress reduction.

Bibliography

Alexandra D. Crosswell, email the author, S. E. (2024). Deep rest: an integrative model of how

contemplative practices combat stress and enhance the body’s restorative capacity.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 7

APAPsychNet, 247-270.

Baig, M. H. (2024). The Effects of Prayer and Meditative Practices on Neuroplasticity Astra

Stem Research Journal, 1-6.