The Human Mind On Religion: 'Spiritual Awakening' Activates Same Brain Region As Love, Sex
Nov 29, 2016 05:00 AM
By Lizette Borreli
The conversation of whether or not God exists has shifted toward a more telling question: "Why do so many people believe?" Researchers at the University of Utah have looked into the brains of religious devotees, and found that faith may provide some particularly pleasurable rewards.
Using fMRI scans, the researchers found religious and spiritual experiences activate the brain reward circuits in the same way as love, sex, gambling, drugs, and music. That may be reason enough for adherents of the world's approximately 4,200 different religions.
"When our study participants were instructed to think about a savior, about being with their families for eternity, about their heavenly rewards, their brains and bodies physically responded," said Michael Ferguson, lead author of the study, and a bioengineering graduate student at the University of Utah, in a statement.
Spirituality uses several regions of the brain, with certain areas playing more dominant roles than others. However, as the researchers noted, they all work together to facilitate the spiritual experience for each individual.
http://www.medicaldaily.com/human-mind-religion-spiritual-awakening-activates-same-brain-region-love-sex-405158
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17470919.2016.1257437