Hyperreligiosity in malignant brain tumors: a case report and accompanying bibliographic review.
Alberto Carmona-Bayonas, Paula Jiménez-Fonseca, Carlos Vázquez Olmos, Juan Vega Villar
Neurocase December 12, 2016 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2016.1265985 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient with a right prefrontal astrocytoma and apparent inflammatory involvement of the right temporal lobe |
| Keywords | Humans Astrocytoma Brain neoplasms Factitious disorders Religion Databases, bibliographic Middle aged Female Hallucinations Limbic encephalitis Hyperreligiosity Ecstatic seizures |
| Key findings | The authors report that a right prefrontal astrocytoma, with apparent inflammatory involvement of the right temporal lobe, presented almost exclusively as a personality change consisting of hyperreligiosity, logorrhea, and mystical experiences. They argue that religiosity is a complex cognitive process tied to neocortical circuits and propose possible pathophysiological mechanisms. |
Abstract
Religion is a complex cognitive process with biopsychosocial and cultural dimensions, product of the activation of different circuits of the neocortex. In some cases, religiosity can appear as a pathological correlate in patients with brain lesions in the areas involved. We present the clinical case of a patient with an astrocytoma in the right prefrontal region, with apparent inflammatory involvement of the right temporal lobe. This tumor debuted almost exclusively as an alteration of personality consisting of hyperreligiosity, logorrhea, and mystical experiences. A review of the literature has been conducted and possible pathophysiological mechanisms are proposed.
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns Neuroscience Letters July 27, 2006
- The neural substrates of religious experience The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences August 1, 1997
- The Serotonin System and Spiritual Experiences American Journal of Psychiatry November 1, 2003
- EEG activity in Carmelite nuns during a mystical experience Neuroscience Letters August 15, 2008
- Numinous-like auras and spirituality in persons with partial seizures. Epilepsia March 2011
and 5 more in the library