Monday, June 25, 2007
Epilepsy and Spiritual Literature
Spirituality has been associated with a mysterious epilepsy-like medical condition.
For example, a study reported at the American Neurological Association meeting in October 2002 by Dr. Thomas Hayton and associates reported people with epilepsy were more religious and spiritual than the general population. They scored higher than others in terms of daily, personal spiritual experiences (feeling the presence of God, love, deep inner peace, and the beauty of creation). They also scored higher in measures of the strength of their spiritual beliefs and values.
Here is one explanation. Our states of consciousness are managed in the temporal lobes of our brains. The temporal lobes do all sorts of things including language, long-term memory storage, emotional reactions, perceiving spatial relationships, and music, smells are interpreted here, as well as patterns, whether these are patterns in time or in space.
Most importantly, the human sense of self is maintained here, including our feelings of self-worth, our sense of being an independent person, and it infuses our moment-to-moment experiences with meaningfulness. If the pathways that are involved with the experience of meaningfulness have their thresholds lowered, individuals find meaning in more and more things. Miss the bus? It was 'meant' to happen. One may also experience less of a sense of independence, such as being under God's will, or in the presence of another.
The temporal lobes are unique in having their own special kind of epilepsy. Its usually called temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but it also goes by the name of 'complex partial seizures' because it stays in the temporal lobes of the brain. Because the temporal lobes control states of consciousness, unsusual activity produces odd states, at least compared to that person's usual (or baseline) states.
Todd Murphy, a behavioural neuroscientist reports that sufferes of TLE might 'hear voices', and are more likely to spend time writing. Poets have been found to have TL 'signs' more often than others. There are important language centers in the temporal lobes, and when the temporal lobes are generally more active, these language centers are going to be affected. When TLE patients were asked if they 'felt that they had an important book to write', most answered 'true'.
Great works of spiritual literature or brain malfunction? Gives one pause for thought.
For example, a study reported at the American Neurological Association meeting in October 2002 by Dr. Thomas Hayton and associates reported people with epilepsy were more religious and spiritual than the general population. They scored higher than others in terms of daily, personal spiritual experiences (feeling the presence of God, love, deep inner peace, and the beauty of creation). They also scored higher in measures of the strength of their spiritual beliefs and values.
Here is one explanation. Our states of consciousness are managed in the temporal lobes of our brains. The temporal lobes do all sorts of things including language, long-term memory storage, emotional reactions, perceiving spatial relationships, and music, smells are interpreted here, as well as patterns, whether these are patterns in time or in space.
Most importantly, the human sense of self is maintained here, including our feelings of self-worth, our sense of being an independent person, and it infuses our moment-to-moment experiences with meaningfulness. If the pathways that are involved with the experience of meaningfulness have their thresholds lowered, individuals find meaning in more and more things. Miss the bus? It was 'meant' to happen. One may also experience less of a sense of independence, such as being under God's will, or in the presence of another.
The temporal lobes are unique in having their own special kind of epilepsy. Its usually called temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but it also goes by the name of 'complex partial seizures' because it stays in the temporal lobes of the brain. Because the temporal lobes control states of consciousness, unsusual activity produces odd states, at least compared to that person's usual (or baseline) states.
Todd Murphy, a behavioural neuroscientist reports that sufferes of TLE might 'hear voices', and are more likely to spend time writing. Poets have been found to have TL 'signs' more often than others. There are important language centers in the temporal lobes, and when the temporal lobes are generally more active, these language centers are going to be affected. When TLE patients were asked if they 'felt that they had an important book to write', most answered 'true'.
Great works of spiritual literature or brain malfunction? Gives one pause for thought.
Labels: epilepsy, spirituality, temporal lobes
¶ 5:04 PM
