Religious experience, like all human experience, originates in the brain. Clues to its neural basis come from conditions such as temporolimbic epilepsy, near-death experiences, and hallucinogen use, which can produce depersonalization, derealization, ecstasy, and a sense of timelessness. Religious delusions are common in schizophrenia, mania, and depression. The authors propose a limbic marker hypothesis: the temporolimbic system tags certain stimuli as depersonalized, crucially important, harmonious, or joyous, leading individuals to interpret these experiences within a religious framework.
Almost half of people with functional neurological disorder (FND) report having tried legal psychoactive substances—nicotine, alcohol, and cannabidiol—to manage their symptoms, finding them modestly effective. Fifteen percent have used illicit substances, mostly cannabis, reporting moderate effectiveness and minimal side effects. Many respondents (46%) would be willing to try medically supervised psychedelic therapy if proven safe and effective. The findings highlight that people with FND often seek alternative symptom management outside usual medical care and suggest that further research into novel treatments, including psychedelics, may be warranted.