Prior to researchers' discoveries, scientists believed that there was a distinct spot in the brain responsible for spirituality. However, new developments have shown that contrary to previous belief, the phenomenon of spirituality develops through interactions between different parts of the brain, with some parts playing a more dominant role than others. A dominant part of the brain associated with spirituality is the right parietal lobe. Scientists have discovered that people with traumatic injuries affecting the right parietal lobe are more likely to be associated with a higher power and believe they are involved in a divine plan. According to the article, decreased activity in the right parietal lobe correlates with increased participation in spiritual practices. With training, one could purposely minimize activity in the right parietal lobe to enhance spiritual connection.
In biology class, we learned about the brain, its role in the nervous system, and trauma and homeostatic imbalance. The right side of the brain relates to the individual's focus on self and self-orientation, while the left side of the brain corresponds with the individual's relation to others. Therefore, those with traumatic injuries on the right side of the brain lose functioning in self-orientation and are more likely to associate with higher powers, religious institutions, and philosophies that regard to serving others before the self. With this in perspective, in certain cases, religious affiliation could be linked to homeostatic imbalance.
Source:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419091223.htm
Biomedia Term 4
How do you increase activity in the right parietal lobe of the brain only?
ReplyDeleteDan,
DeleteSince the right parietal lobe is associated with matters regarding the self, you could increase activity in the right parietal lobe if you engage in self-oriented activities. For example, looking at a picture of yourself would activate the right parietal lobe. Thus people with damaged right parietal lobes are less focused on the self and are more likely to turn to spiritual connections that involve others.
What are the positive and negative controls of this experiment? What I mean is, how can the researchers be sure that it isn't that those who are religious tend to have more injuries to the brain, and therefore less activity of the right partial lobe? How do the researchers begin to narrow done the variables?
ReplyDeleteClaire,
DeleteI couldn't find the specific details of the experiment even after perusing the internet for a bit, but I don't believe the case study was one that necessarily had a strict testing of hypotheses. Rather, I think Johnstone interviewed subjects that suffered from a right parietal lobe trauma and had them answer a questionnaire describing their agreeableness to spiritual topics. I think the overall point is to establish that there is a strong connection between the right parietal lobe and spirituality.