The spiritual brain: selective cortical lesions modulate human self-transcendence.
The predisposition of human beings toward spiritual feeling, thinking, and behaviors is measured by a supposedly stable personality trait called self-transcendence. Although a few neuroimaging studies suggest that neural activation of a large fronto-parieto-temporal network may underpin a variety of spiritual experiences, information on the causative link between such a network and spirituality is lacking. Combining pre- and post-neurosurgery personality assessment with advanced brain-lesion mapping techniques, we found that selective damage to left and right inferior posterior parietal regions induced a specific increase of self-transcendence. Therefore, modifications of neural activity in temporoparietal areas may induce unusually fast modulations of a stable personality trait related to transcendental self-referential awareness. These results hint at the active, crucial role of left and right parietal systems in determining self-transcendence and cast new light on the neurobiological bases of altered spiritual and religious attitudes and behaviors in neurological and mental disorders.
Urgesi
Cosimo
C
Dipartimento di Filosofia, Università di Udine, via Margreth, 3, I-33100, Udine, Italy. cosimo.urgesi@uniud.it
Aglioti
Salvatore M
SM
Skrap
Miran
M
Fabbro
Franco
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology*