Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2014
Abstract
The purpose of this paper will be to provide a perspective on the current state of the research evaluating the neurobiological correlates of spiritual practices and review the methodological issues that confront this research field. There are many types of spiritual practices that might be studied including prayer and meditation, as well as unusual practices such as mediumistic trance states, speaking in tongues, and also drug-induced experiences. Current studies have utilized neuroimaging techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging, single photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. These studies have helped elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms associated with spiritual practices. Such studies confront unique challenges for scientific methodology including determining the most appropriate objective measures such as neuroimaging studies and physiological parameters, and correlating them with subjective measures that help capture states of spiritual significance. Overall, a neuroscientific study of spiritual practices and experiences has the potential to provide fascinating data to further our understanding of the relationship between the brain and such phenomena.
Recommended Citation
Newberg, MD, Andrew B., "The neuroscientific study of spiritual practices." (2014). Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers. Paper 14.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/jmbcimfp/14
PubMed ID
24672504
Comments
This Document is Protected by copyright and was first published by Frontiers. All rights reserved. It is reproduced with permission.
This article is the final published version in Frontiers in Psychology Volume 5, March 2014, Article number 215.
The published version is available at DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00215. Copyright © Frontiers