It’s confirmed: Spiritual experiences ‘are in the brain’

According to the researchers, this study suggests that all individuals regardless of cultural background or religion, experience the same neuropsychological functions during their spiritual experiences, such as transcendence.

Transcendence – feelings of universal unity and decreased sense of self – is a core tenet of all religions. Meditation and prayer are the primary vehicles by which such spiritual transcendence is achieved.

Lead researcher Prof Brick Johnstone said: “The brain functions in a certain way during spiritual experiences. We studied people with brain injury and found people that with injuries to the right parietal lobe of the brain reported higher levels of spiritual experiences such as transcendence.”

This link is important, Johnstone said, because it means selflessness can be learned by decreasing activity in that part of the brain. He suggests this can be done through conscious effort, such as meditation or prayer.

People with these selfless spiritual experiences also are more psychologically healthy, especially if they have positive beliefs that there is a God or higher power who loves them, according to him.

“This research also addresses questions regarding the impact of neurologic versus cultural factors on spiritual experience. The ability to connect with things beyond the self, such as transcendent experiences, seems to occur for people who minimise right parietal functioning.

“This can be attained through cultural practices, such as intense meditation or prayer or because of a brain injury that impairs the functioning of right parietal lobe. Either way, our study suggests selflessness is a neuropsychological foundation of spiritual experiences,” Johnstone said.