SCIENCE wins again; brain damage = increased spirituality

[Hypnagogia]

http://www.livescience.com/health/spiri ... 00211.html

Scientists have identified areas of the brain that, when damaged, lead to greater spirituality. The findings hint at the roots of spiritual and religious attitudes, the researchers say.

The study, published in the Feb. 11 issue of the journal Neuron, involves a personality trait called self-transcendence, which is a somewhat vague measure of spiritual feeling, thinking, and behaviors. Self-transcendence "reflects a decreased sense of self and an ability to identify one's self as an integral part of the universe as a whole," the researchers explain.

Before and after surgery, the scientists surveyed patients who had brain tumors removed. The surveys generate self-transcendence scores.

Selective damage to the left and right posterior parietal regions of the brain induced a specific increase in self-transcendence, or ST, the surveys showed.

"Our symptom-lesion mapping study is the first demonstration of a causative link between brain functioning and ST," said Dr. Cosimo Urgesi from the University of Udine in Italy. "Damage to posterior parietal areas induced unusually fast changes of a stable personality dimension related to transcendental self-referential awareness. Thus, dysfunctional parietal neural activity may underpin altered spiritual and religious attitudes and behaviors."

Previous neuroimaging studies had linked activity within a large network in the brain that connects the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortexes with spiritual experiences, "but information on the causative link between such a network and spirituality is lacking," explains lead study author, Urgesi said.

One study, reported in 2008, suggested that the brain's right parietal lobe defines "Me," and people with less active Me-Definers are more likely to lead spiritual lives.

The finding could lead to new strategies for treating some forms of mental illness.

"If a stable personality trait like ST can undergo fast changes as a consequence of brain lesions, it would indicate that at least some personality dimensions may be modified by influencing neural activity in specific areas," said Dr. Salvatore M. Aglioti from Sapienza University of Rome. "Perhaps novel approaches aimed at modulating neural activity might ultimately pave the way to new treatments of personality disorders."

[Green Chamber]

Altering a part of the brain changes the way it works

[Hypnagogia]

Altering a part of the brain changes the way it works

lesions = damage

[ThE GodDamN BattletweeteR]

why should we trust science now ? science did bring us global warming after all.

[Morpheus]

That still doesn't explain the millions of intelligent people who willingly choose to commit unreason.

[Double Anal]

most people are on heavy drugs after brain surgery, explains why they feel transcendence. they are on a morphine high.

[Friendly Goatus]

most people are on heavy drugs after brain surgery, explains why they feel transcendence. they are on a morphine high.

Thank you, Double Anal. The world is grateful to have someone like you who can get to the bottom of things when our well educated scientists start to get careless.

[John Jr.]

That still doesn't explain the millions of intelligent people who willingly choose to commit unreason.

reason is just another electrochemical brain function. plenty of people likely just dont have the capability.

look at how dumb the average man on the street is. by definition, half of them are dumber.