Abstract
BackgroundIt has been shown that particular religious beliefs and practices are associated with brain function and structure. The present voxel‐based morphometry study investigated the correlation between the belief in the miracles of Lourdes (a major Catholic pilgrimage site) and gray matter volume in specific brain regions associated with theory of mind (ToM).MethodStructural brain data from 84 women (mean age: 25 years; no current somatic illness; 80% Roman‐Catholic) were correlated with self‐report measures on belief in miracles, religious–spiritual well‐being, and psychological problems. Selected brain regions of the ToM network included the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC).ResultsThe belief in the miracles of Lourdes was positively correlated with general religiousness and with feelings of connectedness; there was no association with psychological problems. Belief in miracles of Lourdes correlated positively with TPJ volume and negatively with MPFC volume.ConclusionBelief in the miracles was associated with brain volume in regions involved in mentalizing and self‐control.
Highlights
Only a small number of studies exist on the association between brain structure and religious beliefs or activities. The majority of these have focused on how religiously inspired techniques of meditation are associated with gray matter volume (GMV)
The present VBM study revealed that belief in the miracles of Lourdes correlated positively with gray matter volume (GMV) in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and negatively with GMV in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC)
We found two regions of the neural theory of mind (ToM) network to be associated with beliefs in the miracles of Lourdes
Summary
Lourdes is a site in France that has been associated with medical miracles for the past 150 years. Only a small number of studies exist on the association between brain structure and religious beliefs or activities The majority of these have focused on how religiously inspired techniques of meditation are associated with gray matter volume (GMV) (for a review see Tang, Hölzel, & Posner, 2015). Based on a review of findings from brain research (functional/ structural neuroimaging, data from neuropsychological patients), van Elk and Aleman (2017) proposed an integrative model of the neurocognitive basis of religion and spirituality According to this model, temporal brain areas are involved in religious visions and hallucinations, whereas multisensory integration areas (e.g., temporoparietal junction) are implicated in mystical and self-transcendent experiences. Kapogiannis, Barbey, Su, Krueger, et al (2009) suggested that individuals construct representations of religious belief by differentially engaging the ToM circuit Central hubs of this circuit include prefrontal areas, temporoparietal regions, and the hippocampus. Religious–spiritual well-being was assessed to investigate associations between the specific belief in miracles and general religiousness
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