Right Parietal Lobe-Related “Selflessness” as the Neuropsychological Basis of Spiritual Transcendence

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to replicate studies that suggest that a frontal-parietal circuit is related to spiritual-religious experiences, and specifically that a decreased focus on the self (i.e., selflessness), associated with decreased right parietal lobe (RPL) functioning, serves as the primary neuropsychological foundation for spiritual transcendence. Participants included 20 outpatients with brain injury referred for neuropsychological assessment. Outcome variables included measures of spirituality (Inspirit: Kass, Friedman, Lesserman, Zuttermeister, & Benson, 1991; Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality [BMMRS]: Fetzer Institute & National Institute on Aging Working Group, 1999) and neuropsychological abilities (i.e., bilateral parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes). Consistent with previous research, Pearson correlations indicated that decreased RPL functioning is significantly associated with increased spiritual transcendence as measured by the Inspirit (and BMMRS spirituality subscales to a lesser degree); and increased frontal lobe functioning is significantly associated with more frequent religious practices. Spiritual transcendence (i.e., emotional connection with the numinous/mystical) is a specific spiritual dimension that appears to be primarily related to increased selflessness associated with decreased RPL functioning. Increased frontal lobe functioning also appears to be related to more frequent religious practices (and spiritual experiences to a lesser extent), although the specific neuropsychological process/mechanism remains uncertain.