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Neuropsychology of Religious Experience

Neuropsychology of Religious Experience. James A. Van Slyke. Andrew Newberg. University of Pennsylvania Medical Doctor Neuropsychologist/Neuroscientist Investigates neural correlates of religious experience “ Neurotheology ” Meditation, Prayer, Glossolalia.

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Neuropsychology of Religious Experience

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  1. Neuropsychology of Religious Experience James A. Van Slyke

  2. Andrew Newberg • University of Pennsylvania • Medical Doctor • Neuropsychologist/Neuroscientist • Investigates neural correlates of religious experience • “Neurotheology” • Meditation, Prayer, Glossolalia

  3. Cognitive Sciences and the Mind • Neuropsychology of Religious Experiences • Brain images of Tibetan Buddhists and Franciscan Nuns • Increased activity in frontal lobe and right parietal lobe during meditation • Brain is quite active in a specialized way during religious experience

  4. Brain changes in response to meditation (Newberg et. al. 2009) • Differences between long-term and short-term mediators at rest • Long-term mediators showed differences in brain activity in several different areas (prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex and others) • Greater asymmetry in thalamus • Causes? • Meditation may change brain activity over time • Certain brain architectures may lend itself to meditative states

  5. Meditation effects on Memory Loss (Newberg et. al. 2010) • Subjects – Mild forms of memory impairment (Age = 52-77) • 8 week meditation program • Increased brain activity in prefrontal, superior frontal, parietal areas • Improvements in neuropsych testing • Verbal fluency • Logical memory

  6. Ritual Effects on Anxiety (Anastasi & Newberg 2008) • Subjects - 30 students from Catholic College • 12 students recited rosary • 18 students watched religious video • Students who recited rosary showed significant decrease in anxiety • Religious ritual practices may play important role in psychological well-being

  7. Speaking in Tongues and Brain activity (Newberg et. al. 2006) • Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) demonstrates increases brain activity in frontal lobes, parietal lobes, and left caudate

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