Human Propensity for Deity Worship: A New Study Suggests a Significant Contribution from a Specific Brain Area
Human beings have always sought to venerate a plethora of deities, with a staggering 18,000 gods, goddesses, and sacred objects taking center stage throughout our history[1]. Some have stood the test of time for thousands of years, while others continue to draw followers today. But have you ever wondered why this persistent human inclination towards religiosity endures?
Neuroscience may just have an answer for us. Research reveals that our brains might be engineered for spiritual belief[2]. A trailblazing study identified a neural circuit, centered on the brain region known as the periaqueductal grey, which appears to be directly linked to feelings of spirituality and religious experience[2]. This ancient brain structure, located in the primitive brainstem and responsible for processing fear, pain, and social behaviors such as altruism[2], implies that our capacity for religious belief could have evolved as a survival mechanism.
Religious beliefs abound, regardless of cultural, geographical, or historical differences. More than 80 percent of the global population identifies as religious or spiritual[1]. This universal human drive for worship is remarkable, especially considering the vast resources that humanity has dedicated to religious practices throughout the ages. We've built towering pyramids for the dead, crafted elaborate temples, and devised complex rituals, requiring significant investment of time and energy. Yet, such costly behaviors endure, suggesting they serve an essential psychological or social purpose.
Religious systems fluctuate over time, with some once-powerful deities fading into obscurity. Consider Egypt's sun god, Ra, who stood at the heart of one of history's most intricate religious systems, only to be relegated to museums and history books[1]. As new beliefs emerges, historical patterns suggest that many of today's dominant religions may eventually lose their influence[1].
Scientists are delving into a new discipline called the neuroscience of religiosity to investigate the biological foundations of spiritual experiences[2]. Utilizing advanced technology, such as fMRI, MRI, EEG, and positron emission, researchers attempt to scrutinize brain activity during prayer, meditation, and other spiritual states[2].
One recent study recruited participants from diverse religious backgrounds, such as Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and more, to identify common neural patterns associated with spiritual experiences[2]. Despite substantial challenges in quantifying religiosity and account for the diversity of spiritual experiences, the research team managed to pinpoint distinct neural signatures linked with religious states[2].
Brain regions associated with these states included the areas of the frontal cortex, the posterior cingulate cortex, and the default mode network[2]. This evidence implies that religious experiences generate consistent neurobiological effects, regardless of the specific religious tradition practiced[2].
However, many continue to question whether these scientific findings invalidate spiritual experiences or religious beliefs. For some, understanding the brain's role in spirituality adds a new layer of complexity and appreciation to the human capacity for transcendence. For researchers, delving into the biological underpinnings of religiosity illuminates the fascinating connection between the brain, beliefs, and human psychology.
- The study of spirituality and religious experiences is gaining prominence in the field of science, with researchers using advanced technologies like fMRI, MRI, EEG, and positron emission to investigate the neurobiological foundations of these experiences.
- As neuroscientific investigations into religiosity reveal common neural patterns associated with spiritual states across diverse religious backgrounds, these findings are encouraging dialogue about the intersection of technology, science, health-and-wellness, mental-health, and therapies-and-treatments in understanding human spirituality.
