Links to Spirituality Found in the Brain

[Sumedho]

By LiveScience Staff
posted: 11 February 2010 10:02 pm ET
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Scientists have identified areas of the brain that, when damaged, lead to greater spirituality. The findings hint at the roots of spiritual and religious attitudes, the researchers say.

The study, published in the Feb. 11 issue of the journal Neuron, involves a personality trait called self-transcendence, which is a somewhat vague measure of spiritual feeling, thinking, and behaviors. Self-transcendence "reflects a decreased sense of self and an ability to identify one's self as an integral part of the universe as a whole," the researchers explain.

Before and after surgery, the scientists surveyed patients who had brain tumors removed. The surveys generate self-transcendence scores.

Selective damage to the left and right posterior parietal regions of the brain induced a specific increase in self-transcendence, or ST, the surveys showed.

"Our symptom-lesion mapping study is the first demonstration of a causative link between brain functioning and ST," said Dr. Cosimo Urgesi from the University of Udine in Italy. "Damage to posterior parietal areas induced unusually fast changes of a stable personality dimension related to transcendental self-referential awareness. Thus, dysfunctional parietal neural activity may underpin altered spiritual and religious attitudes and behaviors."

Previous neuroimaging studies had linked activity within a large network in the brain that connects the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortexes with spiritual experiences, "but information on the causative link between such a network and spirituality is lacking," explains lead study author, Urgesi said.

One study, reported in 2008, suggested that the brain's right parietal lobe defines "Me," and people with less active Me-Definers are more likely to lead spiritual lives.

The finding could lead to new strategies for treating some forms of mental illness.

"If a stable personality trait like ST can undergo fast changes as a consequence of brain lesions, it would indicate that at least some personality dimensions may be modified by influencing neural activity in specific areas," said Dr. Salvatore M. Aglioti from Sapienza University of Rome. "Perhaps novel approaches aimed at modulating neural activity might ultimately pave the way to new treatments of personality disorders."

[Jerry]

So, practically.. Does it mean that fasting for 40 days like  did, or extreme austerities practiced by the young Bodhisatta, help them in developing greater sense of spirituality?

[Sumedho]

the "sense of spirituality" term is a dangerous one

[Jerry]

So what is the apt term then?
*forgive my sin, milord*

[Sumedho]

i don't know. it depend on what you would like to express. so, use explainatory sentences instead?

[Indra]

is this in "waroeng english"?

[Jerry]

To put in short the article above, when some "right proportions" of damage inflicted on our brain, it will lead us to greater spirituality. CMIIW.

So I mean, is it justifiable for those scientists to say like that? Brain damage and greater spirituality? Sounds like simply saying, "bang your head against the wall n you'll get enlightened."

Before and after surgery, the scientists surveyed patients who had brain tumors removed. The surveys generate self-transcendence scores.

It's plain obvious, isnt? Most of people who escape death once, or get some time spared with their life, will start to seek answers of their life in religion n spiritual stuff..

[Jerry]

Can be removed there then..