Religion and the Brain - on Consciousness and Attention

Greater depth of attention, often called concentration or absorption, can alter how we experience the world and, in extreme cases, lead to religious experiences. Little is known about the neural correlates of these states. This paper proposes that certain serotonin receptors (5-HT2A) play a decisive role. When activated, these receptors dampen external or internal stimuli. The paper argues that attention consists primarily in the exclusion of stimuli, so attention corresponds to activation of 5-HT2A receptors. This provides an objective measure of depth of attention via degree of receptor activation, hypothesized to contribute to understanding the link between religion and the brain.

Study at a glance

Abstract

There can be degrees of attention. Greater depth of attention is often referred to as concentration or absorption. Great depth of attention may affect the way we experience the world, leading in extreme cases to religious experiences. In spite of its importance, little is known about the neural correlates (NCCs) of those states. This paper makes a proposal as to those correlates. It suggests that certain serotonin receptors (5-HT2A) play a decisive role. These receptors, when activated, dampen stimuli that can be either external or internal, or both. Attention, the paper further proposes, consists primarily if not exclusively in the exclusion of stimuli. Such being the case, attention corresponds to the activation of 5-HT2A receptors. This understanding provides an objective measure of depth of attention in the form of degree of activation of those receptors. This in its turn is hypothesized to contribute to an understanding of the link between religion and the brain.