Religion is ALL in Your Head! Religious Experiences and Epilepsy

Author: University of Missouri-Columbia
Published: 2017/03/09 - Updated: 2025/06/09
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Informative
Category Topic: Neurological Disorders - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This peer-reviewed article presents research from the University of Missouri-Columbia examining the neurological basis of religious and spiritual experiences, particularly in individuals with epilepsy. The study found a strong correlation between philosophical religious thoughts and epilepsy, but not between emotional religious experiences and the condition, suggesting that the human tendency for religious thinking may be neurologically predisposed rather than emotionally driven.

Participants, who varied in religious affiliation and included Protestants, Catholics, Buddhists, atheists, and others, completed surveys assessing both epilepsy-related behaviors and religious orientations, highlighting the diversity of spiritual experience among people with neurological disorders. This information is authoritative and useful, especially for individuals with disabilities or seniors, as it provides insight into how neurological conditions like epilepsy can influence spiritual or religious perspectives, potentially informing both clinical care and personal understanding. The research is particularly interesting because it opens avenues for further study on how brain function and surgery might alter spiritual experiences, which could be valuable for medical professionals, caregivers, and patients alike - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Neurological Roots of Religious Experience Explored in Epilepsy Study

The relationship between epilepsy and heightened religious experiences has been recognized since at least the 19th century.

Main Content

In a recent study, researchers from the University of Missouri found a neurological relationship exists between religiosity - a disposition for spiritual experience and religious activity - and epilepsy. This finding sheds light on the connection between religion and neuropsychological processes within the human brain.

"Past research has indicated that humans might have a distinctive neurological tendency toward being spiritually oriented," said Brick Johnstone, a neuropsychologist and professor of health psychology. "This research supports the notion that the human propensity for religious or spiritual experiences may be neurologically based."

"The end goal of this research is to understand if some type of connection exists between the brain and spiritual experience," said Daniel Cohen, co-author and assistant professor of religious studies. "If a connection exists, what does it mean for humans and their relationship with religion?"

Religion is ALL in Your Head!

In their study, the researchers asked individuals with epilepsy to take two surveys.

• The first survey assessed behavior characteristics specifically associated with epilepsy.
• The second survey measured religious activities and spiritual orientations.

The average participant was 39 years old, with the majority of participants of Caucasian descent:

• 32 percent identified as Protestant
• 10 percent as Catholic
• 5 percent as Buddhist
• 5 percent as atheist
• 38 percent as other
• 10 percent did not indicate any religious affiliation

"We found a strong correlation between philosophical religious thoughts and epilepsy, but no correlation between emotional thinking and epilepsy," said Greyson Holliday, co-author and MU undergraduate student studying psychology.

"This study suggests that people may have natural neurological predispositions to think about religion but not in a way that is necessarily associated with emotion."

Based on the findings, future research from Johnstone, Holliday and Cohen will examine religious experiences before and after brain surgery to help determine the specific nature of religiously oriented neuropsychological processes.

About the Study

"Heightened religiosity and epilepsy: evidence for religious-specific neuropsychological processes," recently was published in the journal Mental Health, Religion and Culture.

Johnstone is a professor of health psychology in the MU School of Health Professions. Future research from Johnstone, Holliday and Cohen will examine religious experiences before and after brain surgery. The psychology and religious studies departments are in the MU College of Arts and Sciences.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Missouri-Columbia and published on 2017/03/09, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.