Health and Science for 122808
Hey folks,
OK. I have read this about four times. My first reaction was to dismiss it and move on. This came out Wednesday, when I saw it. But it keeps popping up in my mind. I'm still not one hundred percent sure if this Researcher, Brick Johnstone of Missouri University, is trying to say this is a good or bad thing. Here it is. From LiveScience.com - Spirituality Spot Found in Brain by Robin Nixon Special to LiveScience
What makes us feel spiritual? It could be the quieting of a small area in our brains, a new study suggests.
The area in question - the right parietal lobe - is responsible for defining "Me," said researcher Brick Johnstone of Missouri University. It generates self-criticism, he said, and guides us through physical and social terrains by constantly updating our self-knowledge: my hand, my cocktail, my witty conversation skills, my new love interest ...
People with less active Me-Definers are more likely to lead spiritual lives, reports the study in the current issue of the journal Zygon.
So right here, my first thought was, "OK. So this guy is saying that those who are 'Spiritual' must be brain damaged. Right?" But I'm not so sure now.
Most previous research on neuro-spirituality has been based on brain scans of actively practicing adherents (i.e. meditating monks, praying nuns) and has resulted in broad and inconclusive findings. (Is the brain area lighting up in response to verse or spiritual experience?)
So Johnstone and colleague Bret Glass turned to the tried-and-true techniques of neuroscience's early days - studying brain-injured patients. The researchers tested brain regions implicated in the previous imaging studies with exams tailored to each area's expertise - similar to studying the prowess of an ear with a hearing test. They then looked for correlations between brain region performance and the subjects' self-reported spirituality.
Among the more spiritual of the 26 subjects, the researchers pinpointed a less functional right parietal lobe, a physical state which may translate psychologically as decreased self-awareness and self-focus.
Yet another way of putting it would be Selfishness.
The finding suggests that one core tenant of spiritual experience is selflessness, said Johnstone, adding that he hopes the study "will help people think about spirituality in more specific ways."
Which would be what? This I still do not get.
Spiritual outlooks have long been associated with better mental and physical health. These benefits, Johnstone speculated, may stem from being focused less on one's self and more on others - a natural consequence of turning down the volume on the Me-Definer.
OK. THIS is a Duh factor here. Scientist have PROVEN, over and over again, that when we do for others, we are much happier. We feel more powerful when we become subservient. They have studied this for years. A good Leader leads. A GREAT Leader serves. Jesus himself washed his disciples feet. The most powerful man to ever walk this earth on his hands and knees washing his SERVANTS feet.
Tis better to give than receive. Do for others and YOU will be blessed. ETC. It is true. Try it. You will find it to be true.
In addition to religious practices, other behaviors and experiences are known to hush the Definer of Me. Appreciation of art or nature can quiet it, Johnstone said, pointing out that people talk of "losing themselves" in a particularly beautiful song. Love, and even charity work, can also soften the boundaries of "Me," he said.
This makes Logical sense to me. When you recognize that the world does NOT revolve around you, and you realize that your life is a blink in the span of eternity. You humble yourself into the bigger picture.
The greatest silencing of the Me-Definer likely happens in the deepest states of meditation or prayer, said Johnstone, when practitioners describe feeling seamless with the entire universe.
That is, the highest point of spiritual experience occurs when "Me" completely loses its definition.
"If you look in the Torah, the Old Testament, the New Testament, in the Koran, a lot of Sufi writings, Buddhist writings, and Hindu writings, they all talk about selflessness," said Johnstone.
We may be finding the neurological underpinnings of these writings, he said.
Like I said, this is now time number five of me reading this. Now is he saying that those that live a more Spiritual life are brain damaged? Is he saying those that do not, ARE brain damaged. Unable to turn off the Me factor? Is he saying that those who are able to are more in control of their minds? Truthfully, I'm not sure where he stands. But I do find this interesting either way.
Peter
Sources:
LiveScience.com - Spirituality Spot Found in Brain
Hey folks,
OK. I have read this about four times. My first reaction was to dismiss it and move on. This came out Wednesday, when I saw it. But it keeps popping up in my mind. I'm still not one hundred percent sure if this Researcher, Brick Johnstone of Missouri University, is trying to say this is a good or bad thing. Here it is. From LiveScience.com - Spirituality Spot Found in Brain by Robin Nixon Special to LiveScience
What makes us feel spiritual? It could be the quieting of a small area in our brains, a new study suggests.The area in question - the right parietal lobe - is responsible for defining "Me," said researcher Brick Johnstone of Missouri University. It generates self-criticism, he said, and guides us through physical and social terrains by constantly updating our self-knowledge: my hand, my cocktail, my witty conversation skills, my new love interest ...
People with less active Me-Definers are more likely to lead spiritual lives, reports the study in the current issue of the journal Zygon.
So right here, my first thought was, "OK. So this guy is saying that those who are 'Spiritual' must be brain damaged. Right?" But I'm not so sure now.
Most previous research on neuro-spirituality has been based on brain scans of actively practicing adherents (i.e. meditating monks, praying nuns) and has resulted in broad and inconclusive findings. (Is the brain area lighting up in response to verse or spiritual experience?)
So Johnstone and colleague Bret Glass turned to the tried-and-true techniques of neuroscience's early days - studying brain-injured patients. The researchers tested brain regions implicated in the previous imaging studies with exams tailored to each area's expertise - similar to studying the prowess of an ear with a hearing test. They then looked for correlations between brain region performance and the subjects' self-reported spirituality.
Among the more spiritual of the 26 subjects, the researchers pinpointed a less functional right parietal lobe, a physical state which may translate psychologically as decreased self-awareness and self-focus.
Yet another way of putting it would be Selfishness.
The finding suggests that one core tenant of spiritual experience is selflessness, said Johnstone, adding that he hopes the study "will help people think about spirituality in more specific ways."
Which would be what? This I still do not get.
Spiritual outlooks have long been associated with better mental and physical health. These benefits, Johnstone speculated, may stem from being focused less on one's self and more on others - a natural consequence of turning down the volume on the Me-Definer.
OK. THIS is a Duh factor here. Scientist have PROVEN, over and over again, that when we do for others, we are much happier. We feel more powerful when we become subservient. They have studied this for years. A good Leader leads. A GREAT Leader serves. Jesus himself washed his disciples feet. The most powerful man to ever walk this earth on his hands and knees washing his SERVANTS feet.Tis better to give than receive. Do for others and YOU will be blessed. ETC. It is true. Try it. You will find it to be true.
In addition to religious practices, other behaviors and experiences are known to hush the Definer of Me. Appreciation of art or nature can quiet it, Johnstone said, pointing out that people talk of "losing themselves" in a particularly beautiful song. Love, and even charity work, can also soften the boundaries of "Me," he said.
This makes Logical sense to me. When you recognize that the world does NOT revolve around you, and you realize that your life is a blink in the span of eternity. You humble yourself into the bigger picture.
The greatest silencing of the Me-Definer likely happens in the deepest states of meditation or prayer, said Johnstone, when practitioners describe feeling seamless with the entire universe.
That is, the highest point of spiritual experience occurs when "Me" completely loses its definition.
"If you look in the Torah, the Old Testament, the New Testament, in the Koran, a lot of Sufi writings, Buddhist writings, and Hindu writings, they all talk about selflessness," said Johnstone.
We may be finding the neurological underpinnings of these writings, he said.
Like I said, this is now time number five of me reading this. Now is he saying that those that live a more Spiritual life are brain damaged? Is he saying those that do not, ARE brain damaged. Unable to turn off the Me factor? Is he saying that those who are able to are more in control of their minds? Truthfully, I'm not sure where he stands. But I do find this interesting either way.
Peter
Sources:
LiveScience.com - Spirituality Spot Found in Brain
No comments:
Post a Comment