Nun study reveals God's flickering effect on the brain

Last updated at 11:38 30 August 2006


A study, which subjected nuns to brain scans, found that several areas of their brain flickered into life when they felt the presence of God.

The study, conducted by reasearchers at the University of Montreal, Canada, involved 15 Carmelite nuns being hooked up to high-tech brain scans and asked to recall their most intense mystical experience.

The findings revealed that several areas of the brain - notably those involved with feelings of peace, happiness and self-awareness - engaged when mystical experiences were recalled, not just one specific "God spot."

Comparing results of scans on the nuns, aged from 23 to 64 years, while they were thinking of God, to results prior to being asked to recall religious experiences, scientists found that activity and oxygen levels surged in a dozen different regions.

The findings contradict previous research which suggested that there might be one key part of the brain involved in spiritual experiences.

In their findings, published in the journal Neuroscience Letters, researchers Mario Beauregard and Vincent Paquette said the main goal of the research was "to identify the neural correlates of a mystical experience."

They said the work did "not diminish the meaning and value of such an experience, and neither does it confirm or disconfirm the existence of God."

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