Brick Johnstone, a professor and research facilitator at MU’s School of Health Professions, co-authored a study investigating the origin location of spirituality in the human brain. Investigating 20 subjects with severe head trauma, Johnstone and his fellow researchers found that those with damage to their right parietal lobe, an area a few inches above the right ear, display a decreased sense of self and an increased attachment to a higher power, replicating the findings of previous studies. However, other parts of the brain — specifically the frontal lobe — also fire during increased religious activity, according to the findings of Brickstone’s research.
An interview with Brickstone can be read on the MU News Bureau’s website. The article is available online with a subscription or a one-time fee of $36.