Right hemisphericity, low self-esteem, and unusual experiences: a response to Vingiano.
Perceptual and Motor Skills October 1992 DOI: 10.2466/pms.1992.75.2.568 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that "vectorial hemisphericity" clarifies the relationship among right hemisphericity, low self-esteem, mystical experiences, and religiosity: right-hemispheric intrusions into the left-hemispheric sense of self produce an apprehensive "presence" and lower self-esteem, while transient above-normal left-hemispheric activity makes concurrent right-hemispheric intrusions experienced as mystical, and persistent left-temporofrontal activation encourages religiosity as a delusion. |
Abstract
Vingiano's (1992) challenge concerning the relationship between right hemisphericity, low self-esteem, mystical experiences, and religiosity can be clarified by the concept of vectorial hemisphericity. Ontogenetic intrusions of right-hemispheric processes into the left hemispheric sense of self should be experienced most frequently as an apprehensive "presence" that results in lower self-esteem. Because transient above-normal left-hemispheric activity enhances positive affect and the sense of self, concurrent right-hemispheric intrusions are experienced as mystical experiences. Religiosity would be the consequence of persistent above-normal left-temporofrontal activation that encourages the delusion. Hence, extreme conditions, such as left lateralized temporal-lobe epileptic foci, encourage both mystical and religious experiences.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Methodological guidelines to investigate altered states of consciousness and anomalous experiences International Review of Psychiatry February 17, 2017
- The Neuroscience of Spiritual Experience in Organizations Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion 2008
- Personality changes following brain injury as a grief response to the loss of sense of self: phenomenological themes as indices of local lability and neurocognitive structuring as psychotherapy. Psychological Reports June 1993
Cites 3
- Vectorial Cerebral Hemisphericity as Differential Sources for the Sensed Presence, Mystical Experiences and Religious Conversions Perceptual and Motor Skills June 1, 1993
- Relative right temporal-lobe theta activity correlates with Vingiano's hemispheric quotient and the "sensed presence". Perceptual and Motor Skills December 1, 1992
- The feeling of a presence and verbal meaningfulness in context of temporal lobe function: factor analytic verification of the muses? Brain and Cognition November 1, 1992