Mystical ExperiencesMystical Experiences

Suzanne MoseleySuzanne MoseleyJacqueline Overton Jacqueline Overton

Natan MallingerNatan Mallinger

Mystical and Spiritual Mystical and Spiritual Experiences:Experiences:• Introduction/ Food for thought (Jackie)Introduction/ Food for thought (Jackie)• What are they? (Natan)What are they? (Natan)• Entheogens (Natan)Entheogens (Natan)• Neuropsychology (Jackie)Neuropsychology (Jackie)• Neurotheology (Suzanne)Neurotheology (Suzanne)• Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (Suzanne)Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (Suzanne)• Concluding Remarks…Concluding Remarks…

Evolution of the Mind and Evolution of the Mind and Spirituality?Spirituality?

““The most beautiful and most The most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality is the mystical. And this mysticality is the power of all true science. If there the power of all true science. If there is any such concept as a God, it is a is any such concept as a God, it is a subtle spirit, not an image of a man subtle spirit, not an image of a man that so many have fixed in their that so many have fixed in their minds.”minds.”

- Albert Einstein- Albert Einstein

What is a Mystical Experience?What is a Mystical Experience?

• A feeling of becoming one with “GOD”, A feeling of becoming one with “GOD”, rather than being separate from it.rather than being separate from it.

• Involves loss of ego or personal identity.Involves loss of ego or personal identity.• Can be achieved via Can be achieved via manymany different types different types

of rituals or practices.of rituals or practices.• Achieving conscious awareness or true Achieving conscious awareness or true

perception of the hidden state of reality. perception of the hidden state of reality.

What is GOD?What is GOD?• Religious perspectiveReligious perspective

– GOD is a separate entity who created the GOD is a separate entity who created the universeuniverse

– Religious experience - a connection between Religious experience - a connection between GOD and the selfGOD and the self

• Mystical perspectiveMystical perspective– GOD is, in a sense, the universeGOD is, in a sense, the universe– Mystical Experience -involves the self Mystical Experience -involves the self

connecting with the entire universe as a connecting with the entire universe as a single entitysingle entity

Achieving the MysticalAchieving the MysticalJames Austin’s book, Zen and the Brain describe the four James Austin’s book, Zen and the Brain describe the four

levels of reaching a mystical state of consciousnesslevels of reaching a mystical state of consciousness

1.1. Enhanced awareness and visual imageryEnhanced awareness and visual imagery2.2. Varying Degrees of unitary experienceVarying Degrees of unitary experience3.3. Group setting- external experience (music, chanting, Group setting- external experience (music, chanting,

dance)dance)4.4. Transpersonal or religious experience. Achieving a Transpersonal or religious experience. Achieving a

consciousness of the universal mindconsciousness of the universal mind

Religious RitualsReligious RitualsDifferent categories of ritualDifferent categories of ritual

• Group setting – external experience (music, Group setting – external experience (music, chanting, dance, whirling dervishes)chanting, dance, whirling dervishes)

• Individual setting – internal experience Individual setting – internal experience (meditation, contemplation)(meditation, contemplation)

Similarities across ritualsSimilarities across rituals• emotion discharge (awe, peace, tranquility, emotion discharge (awe, peace, tranquility,

ecstasy )ecstasy )• varying degrees (continuum) of unitary varying degrees (continuum) of unitary

experience experience

EntheogensEntheogens• Entheogens are psychoactive Entheogens are psychoactive

substancessubstances• Traditionally used in religious or Traditionally used in religious or

shamanistic contextsshamanistic contexts• Scientific research for is more Scientific research for is more

reliably reproducible than ritualsreliably reproducible than rituals

MAIN QUESTIONSMAIN QUESTIONS

• What are the physiological correlates What are the physiological correlates of the mystical experience?of the mystical experience?

• Do entheogens and religious rituals, Do entheogens and religious rituals, share certain chemical mechanisms?share certain chemical mechanisms?

• Is the mystical experience just Is the mystical experience just another altered state or is it the another altered state or is it the ultimate goal of being?ultimate goal of being?

Cultures and their EntheogensCultures and their Entheogens

– Iboga and the Bitwi Cult in Congo, Iboga and the Bitwi Cult in Congo, AfricaAfrica

– Mescaline and the Native Americans Mescaline and the Native Americans – Psilocybin and the AztecsPsilocybin and the Aztecs– LSD and the Hippies!LSD and the Hippies!

LSDLSD– Discovered by Albert Hoffman in 19Discovered by Albert Hoffman in 19– A tryptamine which acts as a serotonin A tryptamine which acts as a serotonin

antagonist, activating the same antagonist, activating the same receptors but reacting differently to receptors but reacting differently to synaptic transmissions by transferring synaptic transmissions by transferring the electrical impulses down atypical the electrical impulses down atypical pathways. pathways.

Physiological CorrelatesPhysiological Correlates• 5-HT inhibits 5-HT inhibits lateral geniculate nucleus lateral geniculate nucleus

which which greatly reduces processing of visual greatly reduces processing of visual information.information.

• 5-HT increases temporal visual associations in 5-HT increases temporal visual associations in absence of sensory inputabsence of sensory input

• Internally generated imagery results in Internally generated imagery results in hallucinogenic experience. hallucinogenic experience.

• 5-HT and glutamate stimulate the 5-HT and glutamate stimulate the nucleus nucleus basalis basalis releasing acetylcholine (ACh)releasing acetylcholine (ACh)

• ACh in frontal lobes augments attentional ACh in frontal lobes augments attentional systemsystem

Psychological CorrelatesPsychological Correlates• Visual and aural hallucinationsVisual and aural hallucinations• Changes in proprioceptionChanges in proprioception• Breakdown of the distinction of the Breakdown of the distinction of the

self and othersself and others

Drugs and ReligionDrugs and Religion• In 1962, psychiatrists Walter Pahnke In 1962, psychiatrists Walter Pahnke

wanted to test the ability of psilocybin wanted to test the ability of psilocybin to enhance the religious aspects of the to enhance the religious aspects of the mystical state of consciousness…mystical state of consciousness…

• Transcendence of space and timeTranscendence of space and time• Increased sense of overall unityIncreased sense of overall unity• Long Term effects on well beingLong Term effects on well being

Remember…Remember…• If you’ll recall If you’ll recall

from one of from one of our readings our readings about about meditation, meditation, the networks the networks involved in involved in these states these states are very are very complex! complex!

Overview of Neuropsychology Overview of Neuropsychology of Spiritual Experiencesof Spiritual Experiences

• Cognitive operatorsCognitive operators• Role of the Autonomic Nervous Role of the Autonomic Nervous

SystemSystem• Cortical Association AreasCortical Association Areas

Important Cognitive Important Cognitive OperatorsOperators

• Causal operator is the brain’s ability Causal operator is the brain’s ability to perform causal ordering of events to perform causal ordering of events based on sensory perception based on sensory perception (reductionist/analytical)(reductionist/analytical)– Left inferior parietal lobule (Left inferior parietal lobule (LIPLLIPL) ) left left

anterior convexity of the frontal lobesanterior convexity of the frontal lobes

Important Cognitive Important Cognitive OperatorsOperators• Holistic operator is Holistic operator is the brain’s ability the brain’s ability to view reality as to view reality as a whole (holistic a whole (holistic approach)approach)– Non-dominant Non-dominant

hemisphere, hemisphere, particularly the particularly the posterior superior posterior superior parietal lobule parietal lobule ((PSPLPSPL))

Autonomic Nervous SystemAutonomic Nervous System

oThe ANS is responsible for The ANS is responsible for maintaining baseline body functions, maintaining baseline body functions, plays an important role in overall plays an important role in overall activity of the brain, as well as activity of the brain, as well as generation of fundamental emotions, generation of fundamental emotions, such as fear (wow! That’s a lot such as fear (wow! That’s a lot responsibility!)responsibility!)

Divisions of the ANS: Two Divisions of the ANS: Two complementary systemscomplementary systems• Sympathetic Nervous System: Sympathetic Nervous System:

– ““Ergotropic System” = Sympathetic + Ergotropic System” = Sympathetic + Associated Brain AreasAssociated Brain Areas

• Parasympathetic Nervous System Parasympathetic Nervous System (Peace and energy conservation)(Peace and energy conservation)– ““Trophotropic System” = Trophotropic System” =

Parasympathetic + Associated Brain Parasympathetic + Associated Brain AreasAreas

Role of ANS in Spiritual Role of ANS in Spiritual ExperienceExperience• ““Spillover” or “breakthrough” Spillover” or “breakthrough”

experience happens when:experience happens when:– Continued stimulation of one system Continued stimulation of one system

produces activation in the other systemproduces activation in the other system– Simultaneous stimulation of both Simultaneous stimulation of both

systemssystems• Both have been demonstrated in Both have been demonstrated in

different meditative practicesdifferent meditative practices

Relevant Cortical Association Relevant Cortical Association AreasAreas• Areas that integrate neuronal activity Areas that integrate neuronal activity

from various other areas in the brainfrom various other areas in the brain• Four that are important for M.E.sFour that are important for M.E.s

– PSPLPSPL: posterior superior parietal lobe: posterior superior parietal lobe– ITLITL: inferior temporal lobe: inferior temporal lobe– IPLIPL: inferior parietal lobe: inferior parietal lobe– PFCPFC: prefrontal cortex: prefrontal cortex

PSPLPSPL

• Involved in the integration and Involved in the integration and analysis of higher order sensory analysis of higher order sensory information to create a 3-D image of information to create a 3-D image of the body in spacethe body in space

• Likely is involved in perception of the Likely is involved in perception of the self/other dichotomyself/other dichotomy

ITLITL• Scans entire visual field for objects of Scans entire visual field for objects of

interest (through interconnections interest (through interconnections with limbic nuclei)with limbic nuclei)

• Together with PSPL is involved in Together with PSPL is involved in perception and learning of complex perception and learning of complex geometric shapesgeometric shapes

IPLIPL

• Associates the association areas!Associates the association areas!• Rich interconnections with the visual, Rich interconnections with the visual,

auditory, and somatosensory auditory, and somatosensory association areaassociation area

• Responsible for the generation of Responsible for the generation of abstract concepts and relating them abstract concepts and relating them to wordsto words

PFCPFC

• Receives afferent fibers from al Receives afferent fibers from al sensory modalities & association sensory modalities & association areasareas

• Planning, attention, concentrationPlanning, attention, concentration• Control of emotionControl of emotion• Will or intentionWill or intention

NeurotheologyNeurotheology• The study of the neurobiology of The study of the neurobiology of

religion and spiritualityreligion and spirituality• Primarily studied through brain Primarily studied through brain

imagingimaging• Religious rituals have the power to Religious rituals have the power to

move even nonbelievers!move even nonbelievers!

Some Physiological Some Physiological CorrelatesCorrelates• Certain circuits must be interruptedCertain circuits must be interrupted

•AmygdalaAmygdala•Parietal Lobe CircuitsParietal Lobe Circuits•Frontal and Temporal Lobe CircuitsFrontal and Temporal Lobe Circuits

SPECT studiesSPECT studies• Radioactive tracers injected into the Radioactive tracers injected into the

bloodstream at the height of spiritual bloodstream at the height of spiritual intensityintensity

• Effects most evident inEffects most evident in– Prefrontal CortexPrefrontal Cortex– Superior Parietal LobeSuperior Parietal Lobe

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:Spiritual contemplation has real Spiritual contemplation has real

physiological correlates, causing physiological correlates, causing changes in brain activity in many changes in brain activity in many different regionsdifferent regions

Temporal Lobe Epilectics:Temporal Lobe Epilectics:

What’s going on inside their What’s going on inside their brains?brains?• Temporal lobe is responsible for Temporal lobe is responsible for

language, conceptual thinking, and language, conceptual thinking, and associationsassociations

• Abnormal firing called “temporal lobe Abnormal firing called “temporal lobe transients”transients”

• Longer term effectsLonger term effects– More opioid receptors!More opioid receptors!– Decreased metabolic activityDecreased metabolic activity

Effects on the Body and Effects on the Body and CognitionCognition• This is NOT like a grand mal seizureThis is NOT like a grand mal seizure• Dreamlike hallucinationsDreamlike hallucinations• Cease of motion Cease of motion • Visual alterationsVisual alterations• Auditory illusionsAuditory illusions• Emotional alterationsEmotional alterations

The God HelmetThe God Helmet• Simulated epilectic episodes through Simulated epilectic episodes through

electromagnets on a helmetelectromagnets on a helmet• Disrupts communication between the Disrupts communication between the

2 hemispheres2 hemispheres• Result: feeling of another self or Result: feeling of another self or

“presence”“presence”

The God SpotThe God Spot

• “ “there is a neural basis for religious there is a neural basis for religious experience”experience”

• Skin responses of epilectic individual Skin responses of epilectic individual and normal individualsand normal individuals– Conclusion: epilepsy causes permanent Conclusion: epilepsy causes permanent

changes in temporal lobe circuitrychanges in temporal lobe circuitry•something about the way that God made something about the way that God made

them feel that changed their brainthem feel that changed their brain

Inner Speech Vs. External Inner Speech Vs. External SoundsSounds• Confusion between the external and Confusion between the external and

internalinternal• Right Anterior Cingulate- activated Right Anterior Cingulate- activated

when sound is from external when sound is from external environmentenvironment

• Stress and Emotional arousal Stress and Emotional arousal “confuse the brain”“confuse the brain”

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks• Regardless of how one achieves a Regardless of how one achieves a

mystical experience, the cognitive mystical experience, the cognitive effects are ultimately uniform. effects are ultimately uniform.

• The mystical experience is an The mystical experience is an alternate state of consciousness that alternate state of consciousness that has been around since the dawn of has been around since the dawn of early man and is constant across early man and is constant across cultures. cultures.

Works CitedWorks CitedBegley, Sharon. Your Brain on Religion: Mystic Visions or brain circuits Begley, Sharon. Your Brain on Religion: Mystic Visions or brain circuits

at work?at work?Center for Cognitive Liberty and EthicsCenter for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics. 7 May 2001.. 7 May 2001.Boyer, Pascal. Religious thought and behaviour as by-products of brain Boyer, Pascal. Religious thought and behaviour as by-products of brain

function. function. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 7(3), March 2003.7(3), March 2003.Lewis-Williams, D. Lewis-Williams, D. The Mind in the Cave. The Mind in the Cave. London: Thames Hudson. London: Thames Hudson.

2002.2002.Evans Schultes, R., Hofmann, A. and Ratsch, C. Evans Schultes, R., Hofmann, A. and Ratsch, C. Plants of the Gods: Plants of the Gods:

Their sacred, healing, and hallucinogenic powers. Their sacred, healing, and hallucinogenic powers. Rochester, VT: Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. 1992.Healing Arts Press. 1992.

Newberg, A.B. and Iversen, J. The neural basis of the complex mental Newberg, A.B. and Iversen, J. The neural basis of the complex mental task of meditation, neurotransmitter and neurochemical task of meditation, neurotransmitter and neurochemical considerations. considerations. Medical HypothesesMedical Hypotheses 61(2). 282-291, 2003. 61(2). 282-291, 2003.

Newberg, A.B. and d’Aquili, E.G. The neuropsychology of religious and Newberg, A.B. and d’Aquili, E.G. The neuropsychology of religious and spiritual experiences. spiritual experiences. Journal of Consciousness Studies Journal of Consciousness Studies 7(11). 251-7(11). 251-266, 2000.266, 2000.

Regush, Nicholas. Brain Storms and Angels. Regush, Nicholas. Brain Storms and Angels. Equinox. Equinox. August 1995.August 1995.