Journal
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
Volume 405, Issue 3, Pages 186-190Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.06.060
Keywords
Carmelite nuns; mystical state; functional magnetic resonance imaging; temporal lobes; prefrontal cortex; parietal cortex; spiritual neuroscience
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The main goal of this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to identify the neural correlates of a mystical experience. The brain activity of Carmelite nuns was measured while they were subjectively in a state of union with God. This state was associated with significant loci of activation in the right medial orbitofirontal cortex, right middle temporal cortex, right inferior and superior parietal lobules, right caudate, left medial prefrontal cortex, left anterior cingulate cortex, left inferior parietal lobule, left insula, left caudate, and left brainstem. Other loci of activation were seen in the extra-striate visual cortex. These results suggest that mystical experiences are mediated by several brain regions and systems. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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