Toward a model for spirituality and alcoholism.
Journal of Religion and Health September 1, 1984 DOI: 10.1007/bf00990790 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSpirituality plays a significant role in recovery from alcoholism. The balance between brain hemispheres is linked to alcohol abuse; excessive drinking dampens the left hemisphere's language and action-oriented functions, allowing the right hemisphere's receptive mode—associated with religious experience—to become more engaged. A model of spirituality that balances hemisphere functions and modes of consciousness may offer a non-chemical alternative to excessive alcohol use.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that a model of spirituality based on balancing brain hemisphere functions and modes of consciousness could serve as a non-chemical alternative to excessive alcohol use. |
Abstract
Spirituality is a significant factor in recovery from alcoholism, whatever definition of this condition one may use. One aspect of alcohol abuse is its apparent relationship to the balance between brain hemispheres. Excessive use of alcohol "anesthetizes" the object-based, language-oriented functions of the left hemisphere, associated with an "action mode" of consciousness. This allows greater engagement of the right-hemisphere "receptive mode," which is also associated with religious experience. A model of spirituality based on achieving a balance between hemisphere functions and modes of consciousness could provide a non-chemical alternative to excessive use of alcohol.