Scientists have confirmed the propensity of epileptic patients to deep religiosity - it seems that there is a neurophysiological connection between them.
Epilepsy can cause such vivid and distinct mystical experiences that the disease was considered a kind of "sacred" in a number of religious cultures. Scientific research of this relationship also has more than a dozen years. Continuing this theme, new work by scientists led by Brick Johnstone (Brick Johnstone) of the University of Missouri. Its results are presented in an article published in the journal Mental Health, Religion and Culture.
Epileptic seizures are associated with abnormal bursts of neuronal activity that can affect large areas of the brain. They can cause strong experiences of a mystical sense, and in general patients with epilepsy are often inclined towards religiosity. Let us recall that last year, thanks to chance, scientists even recorded what was happening in the brain of such a patient right in the process of "revelation from above."
“Our work provides new reasons to believe that a person's tendency to religiousness may have neurophysiological grounds,” says Professor Johnston.
Scientists conducted a survey of volunteers suffering from epilepsy, finding out, in particular, various aspects of their life and behavior associated with both disease and religion. Of these, 32 percent identified themselves as Protestant Christians, 10 percent as Catholics, 5 percent called themselves Buddhists and atheists, 38 percent identified themselves as belonging to another religion. Only about 10 percent expressed their indifference to these issues.
These figures (except, of course, the last one) are significantly higher than the general population. According to the authors of the work, they reinforce the possible link between the neurophysiology of epilepsy and religiosity. A connection, the reasons for which remain to be seen.
Sergey Vasiliev
