Journal of Humanistic Psychology
October 24, 2016
David B. Yaden, Khoa D. Le Nguyen, Margaret L. Kern et al.
125 citations
Religious, spiritual, or mystical experiences triggered by psychedelic substances are rated as more intensely mystical and produce a reduced fear of death, a greater sense of purpose, and increased spirituality compared to similar experiences arising through other means. These findings held even after controlling for gender, education, socioeconomic status, and religious affiliation. The results support the view that psychedelic-induced experiences are genuinely mystical and generally positive in outcome.
Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
July 27, 2015
David B. Yaden, Johannes C. Eichstaedt, H. Andrew Schwartz et al.
68 citations
People who report having had mystical experiences use language that is more socially and spatially inclusive—words like 'close,' 'we,' and 'with'—and fewer overtly religious terms such as 'prayed,' 'Christ,' or 'church' compared to those who have not had such experiences. This pattern emerged from quantitative linguistic analysis of 777 participants' written accounts of their most significant spiritual or religious experience. The findings suggest that mystical experiences, though often described as ineffable, can be meaningfully communicated, and that language analysis offers a way to study them.
Religion Brain & Behavior
March 22, 2017
Andrew B. Newberg, Nancy Wintering, David B. Yaden et al.
19 citations
A seven-day spiritual retreat involving meditation and prayer led to measurable changes in brain chemistry. After the retreat, dopamine transporter binding decreased in the basal ganglia and serotonin transporter binding decreased in the midbrain, suggesting altered neurotransmitter activity. Participants also reported changes in psychological and spiritual measures. This preliminary study of 14 individuals provides the first neurophysiological data on such retreats, though the authors note methodological challenges for future research.
Frontiers in Psychology
November 11, 2021
Andrew B. Newberg, Nancy Wintering, Chloe Hriso et al.
10 citations
A meditation practice augmented by clitoral stimulation, called orgasmic meditation (OM), alters resting brain functional connectivity in both male and female participants. After a 15-minute session where the male stimulates the female's clitoris, functional magnetic resonance imaging showed significant changes in brain regions including the left superior temporal lobe, frontal lobe, anterior cingulate, and insula for the entire group. Females showed additional connectivity changes in the cerebellum, thalamus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, while males showed changes in the supramarginal gyrus, cerebellum, and orbitofrontal gyrus. These changes represent a hybrid of patterns seen in meditation and sexual stimulation, suggesting a dynamic relationship between sexuality and spirituality.
F1000Research
September 7, 2022
Andrew B. Newberg, Nancy Wintering, Chloe Hriso et al.
1 citation
During Orgasmic Meditation, a partnered practice combining clitoral stimulation with meditation, brain activity in both men and women showed a hybrid pattern between typical meditation and sexual stimulation. In women, significant decreases in glucose metabolism occurred in the left inferior frontal, inferior parietal, insula, middle temporal, and orbitofrontal regions, as well as the right angular gyrus, anterior cingulate, and parahippocampus. Men showed decreased metabolism in the left middle frontal, paracentral, precentral, and postcentral regions and the right middle frontal and paracentral regions, alongside increased metabolism in the cerebellum and right postcentral and superior temporal regions. These distinct patterns may inform understanding of the link between spiritual and sexual experience.
Frontiers in Neuroimaging
June 10, 2024
Andrew B. Newberg, Nancy Wintering, Chloe Hriso et al.
Long-term practitioners of a meditation practice involving clitoral stimulation (OM) show different patterns of resting brain metabolism compared to non-meditators. In the OM group, metabolic activity was significantly lower in select areas of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as the anterior cingulate, insula, and thalamus. Females in the OM group showed notably lower metabolism in the thalamus and insula compared to males. These brain regions are involved in cognition, attention, and emotional regulation, suggesting potential implications for therapeutic uses in neurological or psychiatric conditions.
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
February 14, 2022
Aleeze Sattar Moss, Diane K. Reibel, Nancy Wintering et al.
After an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, 11 elderly adults (mean age 79) showed altered cerebral blood flow and functional connectivity in brain regions including the cingulate gyrus, limbic structures, and parts of the temporal and frontal lobes. These changes resembled those seen in younger meditators and were accompanied by significant improvements in depression symptoms. The findings suggest that MBSR may modify brain function in older adults.