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October 11, 2007 -- God in the Brain?
Does God have a place in your life? Or a place in your mind? Neuroscientists have searched for an elusive “God spot” in the brain for decades.
But could religion be nothing but a neural quirk in a specific spot?
Well neural quirk maybe – but a specific spot, probably not.
Just like you can’t find the region of soul in a blues band, it’s nearly impossible to find one region of cosmic bliss within the brain circuits. Rather, religious experience is the result of an orchestra of regions, according to neuroscientist Mario Beauregard, at University of Montreal.
In 2006 he studied the brains of 15 nuns using fMRI, and found that when the nuns recalled vivid connections with God, six separate areas of their brains lit up.
Today spiritual neuroscientists are digging deeper attempting to answer some pretty sensitive questions… like what is the neural difference between a feeling of connecting with God and connecting with the universe? Can we induce a religious-like feeling in an atheist? Or here’s the biggie: Does finding a neuronal source for divinity, prove God’s existence?
For more on how neuroscience is closing in on philosophy, see David Biello’s article in the November issue of Scientific American Mind – titled: Searching for God in the Brain.
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4 Comments
Add CommentI have always found the concept of a "god spot" to be intriguing. It does, however seem that the existence of a spot would disprove rather than prove existence. One would think that if this spot held any serious theological significance, a religous experience probably couldn't arbitrarly be solicited with magnetics, the experience would have to come via the divine...however I could be wrong.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Does finding a neuronal source for divinity, prove Gods existence? ". What a stupid question! One might as well ask "Does finding a neuronal source for Big Macs prove Ronald MacDonald's existence?"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthe voice tells me to abduct children and perform various sexual activites with them
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe fact that this idiot is allowed to have a say, says more about the overt stupidity on how we in America wish to use free speech as and medium to inflict or vulgar and outright despicable opinions on one another. With hope- I feel that in this person's case, hope was never an option, possibly an old-fashioned lobotomy is in order- perhaps some of us who think with our entire faculties in tact will be able to come to this conclusion...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe human mind, body and yes spirit is an elusive topic. Therefore, to be studied and marveled over with no conclusive evidence on how those three can be seen, treated, or otherwise comprehended.
And yeah, I kinda seem like a hypocrite when it comes to the free speech thing. And I can because truly it is my right to inflict to the general population with mine own stupidity!