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neurotheology

·January 5, 2022·3 min read

Study Examines Attachment to God and Psychological Distress

Researchers report religious people who relate to a God in an uncertain or anxious manner are more likely to experience psychological distress disorders, including anxiety, paranoia, and obsessive compulsions. Findings reveal how different styles of attachment to a deity may be associated with poorer mental health outcomes.

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·November 15, 2021·5 min read

Research Reveals Potential New Way to Fight Radicalization in True Believers

Researchers report that extreme behaviors exhibited by "true believers" of a religion or belief system are driven by the degree to which their identity fuses with a cause or belief. The findings could help in the fight against radicalization.

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·November 11, 2021·4 min read

‘Orgasmic Meditation’ Alters Brain Function

"Orgasmic meditation" produces a distinct pattern of brain activity, researchers report. The practice alters activity in the frontal lobe and temporal lobe, an area of the brain associated with emotional processing.

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·August 31, 2021·4 min read

Mapping the Brain Circuitry of Spirituality

Researchers find a region of the brain stem called the periaqueductal gray may mediate religiosity and spirituality in humans.

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·July 1, 2021·5 min read

Brain Circuit for Spirituality Identified

A new study has identified a specific brain circuit centered in the periaqueductal gray that is linked to spiritual acceptance and religiosity.

This shows an older person's hands crossed in meditation

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 11, 2021·5 min read

Meditative Practice and Spiritual Wellbeing May Preserve Cognitive Function in Aging

Kirtan Kriya, a simple meditation practice that centers on psychological and spiritual wellbeing, may help to reduce some Alzheimer's related risk factors and improve cognition in older adults.

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·February 24, 2021·4 min read

Atheists and Believers Both Have Moral Compasses, but With Key Differences

Atheists are more likely to believe the morality of an action is based on its consequences, while theists are more inclined to endorse moral values that promote group cohesion. Both believers and non-believers share moral values related to protecting vulnerable individuals and liberty versus oppression, a new study concludes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 11, 2021·4 min read

Study Examines Religious Experiences and Depression

While attending religious services is generally associated with improvements in mental wellbeing, a new study reports spiritual experiences and belief in divine leading can lead to an increased risk of depression, especially in men.

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·January 30, 2021·5 min read

Are the Brains of Atheists Different to Those of Religious People?

Study reviews differences in cognitive processes between atheists and those who believe in a deity.

This shows the Fox sisters, believed to be the originators of the Victorian era Spiritualist movement

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·January 18, 2021·5 min read

How and Why Some People Report “Hearing the Dead”

Spiritualist mediums, those who believe they can hear and communicate with the dead, are more prone to immersive mental activities and unusual auditory experiences in early life.