The headline seemed more suited to The Onion than "Scientific
American" magazine: "Religious experiences shrink part of the
brain."
But the article was real, as was the recent study by researchers at Duke University.
I reached out to the study's lead author, Amy Owen, whom I recognized from her research on forgiveness at UW-Madison. Owen, 34, lived in Madison from 1999 to 2009 while earning a master's degree in counseling and a doctorate in educational psychology.
"Researchers have looked at how the brain functions during spiritual practices, such as meditation and prayer," Owen told me. "We wondered if religious factors could be associated with changes in the physical structure of the brain over time."
Owen and her colleagues evaluated a series of MRIs of 268 men and women aged 58 and older as they aged. The participants answered questions regarding their religious experiences and affiliations.
The researchers looked specifically at the hippocampus, a brain region prior studies identified as potentially involved in religious factors. The size of the hippocampus has been linked to depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease — the smaller its volume, the greater the likelihood of those outcomes.
While it is normal for our brains to shrink as we age, different parts of the brain tend to shrink at different rates, Owen said.
Participants who reported being "born-again" Protestants showed the greatest shrinkage of the hippocampus over time. (The term was defined as having a conversion experience during which one's life is dedicated to Jesus.)
Significant shrinkage also was found among Catholics, those with no religious affiliation and those reporting a life-changing religious experience. Those with the least shrinkage were Protestants not identifying as born again.
Demographic or psychosocial factors assessed in the study did not explain the differences, Owen said.
Because this type of research is fairly new, far more study is needed for conclusive explanations, she said. But she and her colleagues offer a theory, based on stress as one reason the hippocampus is known to shrink.
Their hypothesis is that members of minority Christian denominations or those with no religious affiliation feel greater cumulative stress because their religious beliefs, practices or worldviews are out of step with the larger society. Also, a life-changing religious experience, even if positive overall, could lead to disruptions in valued beliefs and social networks, increasing stress.
"I'd love to know how accurate this hypothesis is," Owen said. "I'm hoping this work will inspire others to do detailed research on why we found what we found."
But the article was real, as was the recent study by researchers at Duke University.
I reached out to the study's lead author, Amy Owen, whom I recognized from her research on forgiveness at UW-Madison. Owen, 34, lived in Madison from 1999 to 2009 while earning a master's degree in counseling and a doctorate in educational psychology.
"Researchers have looked at how the brain functions during spiritual practices, such as meditation and prayer," Owen told me. "We wondered if religious factors could be associated with changes in the physical structure of the brain over time."
Owen and her colleagues evaluated a series of MRIs of 268 men and women aged 58 and older as they aged. The participants answered questions regarding their religious experiences and affiliations.
The researchers looked specifically at the hippocampus, a brain region prior studies identified as potentially involved in religious factors. The size of the hippocampus has been linked to depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease — the smaller its volume, the greater the likelihood of those outcomes.
While it is normal for our brains to shrink as we age, different parts of the brain tend to shrink at different rates, Owen said.
Participants who reported being "born-again" Protestants showed the greatest shrinkage of the hippocampus over time. (The term was defined as having a conversion experience during which one's life is dedicated to Jesus.)
Significant shrinkage also was found among Catholics, those with no religious affiliation and those reporting a life-changing religious experience. Those with the least shrinkage were Protestants not identifying as born again.
Demographic or psychosocial factors assessed in the study did not explain the differences, Owen said.
Because this type of research is fairly new, far more study is needed for conclusive explanations, she said. But she and her colleagues offer a theory, based on stress as one reason the hippocampus is known to shrink.
Their hypothesis is that members of minority Christian denominations or those with no religious affiliation feel greater cumulative stress because their religious beliefs, practices or worldviews are out of step with the larger society. Also, a life-changing religious experience, even if positive overall, could lead to disruptions in valued beliefs and social networks, increasing stress.
"I'd love to know how accurate this hypothesis is," Owen said. "I'm hoping this work will inspire others to do detailed research on why we found what we found."
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