Well sort of…

Researchers have long been interested in mapping how the brain responds and acts during various types of stimulation or tasks.  One of the latest areas of research involves understanding the feelings of euphoria and “closeness to god” which have been reported by many religious people during prayer or meditation.   This article in Scientific American describes how a group of nuns is the latest bunch of “Guinna-pigs” to wear a neural-sensing “helmet.”

Research indicates that religious experiences do indeed have a profound effect on regions of the brain known to be responsible for emotions and feelings of love and joy.   To the religious this can be seen as proof of God’s effect on their mind and body.  Of course, it can also be interpreted as a sign that these intense feelings of the “presence” of God or other spiritual entities are just part of the human neurological condition.

Understanding how religious or other emotional experiences effect the brain can ultimately lead to the ability to induce such states by direct or indirect stimulation.  This may eventually prove to be a useful therapy for those suffering from persistent depression, brain injuries or other psycological and neurological problems.

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 12th, 2007 at 1:06 pm and is filed under Good Science, religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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