The "God Spot" in the brain does not exist

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The article that I chose is addressing the topic of a “God spot” in the brain. A “God spot” was an idea that researchers labeled as the part of the brain that is solely responsible for individuals’ inclination towards spirituality. However, some researchers from the University of Missouri conducted some newer research that labels spirituality as a more intricate and multi-faceted occurrence. They concluded that individuals being spiritual was a result of several parts of the brain being activated at once. The researchers came to this conclusion by realizing that there a positive correlation between individuals’ spirituality and activation of several brain structures. Damage to the right parietal lobe prompts the individual to start to neglect their body or their general sense of space. The study included examining twenty individuals with severe injuries that had a direct effect on the right parietal lobe. The researchers would ask several questions about their inclination and experience with spirituality to both these individuals and another control group full of people who lacked any injuries. They found that more severe the injury to the right parietal lobe, the more spiritual and inclined to believe in a deity or higher power. This would support the notion that there is a specific “God spot” in the brain that has a direct, positive correlation to individuals’ spirituality. However, another correlation was found; engagement in religion and activity in the frontal lobe were positively correlated. This would contradict the idea that there is one sole area that has an effect on an individuals’ spirituality. Spirituality, instead, is a more complicated and intricate phenomenon that is affected by several brain areas; all of these areas work together along with the individuals’ environmental experiences to have an effect on their spirituality.

           I enjoyed reading the article. Though it was from 2012, it displayed the constant advancement of science and how researchers are always working to increase public knowledge. Throughout the entire human body, very few areas work in isolation to the other. Most of the body’s areas work in tandem in order to complete seemingly simple tasks. Just as one area is responsible for initiating any movement, another area is responsible for locating/planning, and another area is responsible for coordinating, smoothing, and executing the movement. It is the same way regarding any characteristic of the human body; even though one area may be responsible for one specific task, the completion of the task relies on instantaneous and efficient communication between all areas. According to the article, it is unwise to pin spirituality on one specific area of the brain; there are several areas that are responsible for humans’ spiritual. The article was retrieved from: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419091223.htm. 

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 29, 2016 at 3:43 AM

    I found this article to be fascinating since there has always been a divide between spirituality and science. Religion and science seems to be pitted against each other at times in our society. It is interesting to know that there are multiple regions in the brain that can contribute to one's spirituality. I wonder why it is that such damage in the right parietal lobe in those patients leads them to believe in a higher power. The parietal lobe is involved in some perception, which could lead to this, however I wish we could better understand this.

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