Center on Religion & the Professions

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Neuropsychological link to spiritual experience

CORP researchers have determined a link between brain function, spiritual experience and selflessness, as reported in the December 2008 issue of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. The article, “Evaluation of a neuropsychological model of spirituality in persons with traumatic brain injury,” was authored by Dr. Brick Johnstone, head of CORP’s Spirituality and Health research team, and Bret Glass.

Key findings:

  • The study indicates there is a neuropsychological basis to spiritual experience.
  • Increased spiritual experience is related to decreased right parietal lobe functioning in the brain (through learned practices such as meditation/prayer or through injury).
  • Decreased right parietal lobe functioning is associated with decreased awareness of the self, demonstrated by individuals with injuries to this part of the brain.
  • Decreased focus on the self allows individuals to focus on things beyond the self (i.e., self transcendence).
  • This decreased awareness of self allows for the “self transcendence” reported by individuals with heightened spiritual experiences.
  • The findings are consistent with the basic tenet of being selfless associated with nearly all religious traditions.

See press release from University of Missouri

See blog post in Faith Matters, Jan. 3, 2009

See article in the Columbia Daily Tribune, Dec. 30, 2008

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