You wouldn't think that man could ever integrate science and spirituality together, eh?
Well, guess again, scientists are studying how secular and spiritual beliefs affect health and behavior.
Specifically, the scientists at the Center for Spirituality and the Mind are studying the physical effects of the religious experience. It sounds like the approach for most of these studies is neurological and the methodology is brain imaging technology.
One of the scientists at the center has even attempted to study glossolalia (speaking of tongues) in previous research. From the article---
In one study, [Andrew] Newberg and colleagues used imaging technology to look at the brains of Pentecostal Christians speaking in tongues — known scientifically as glossolalia — then looked at their brains when they were singing gospel music. They found that those practicing glossolalia showed decreased activity in the brain’s language center, compared with the singing group
Newberg said scientists believe that speech is taken over by another part of the brain during glossolalia, but did not find it during the study.
I think that is very interesting to find out how the brain may be affected due to this spiritual practice.
It will be fascinating what other research comes out from this center and what findings will be available in the near future from other investigators studying the religious experience, brain, and behavior.
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