title: Evidence of a Christmas spirit network in the brain: functional MRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect and localise the Christmas spirit in the human brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single blinded, cross cultural group study with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional imaging unit and department of clinical physiology, nuclear medicine and PET in Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 healthy people from the Copenhagen area who routinely celebrate Christmas and 10 healthy people living in the same area who have no Christmas traditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brain activation unique to the group with Christmas traditions during visual stimulation with images with a Christmas theme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional brain scans optimised for detection of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response were performed while participants viewed a series of images with Christmas themes interleaved with neutral images having similar characteristics but containing nothing that symbolises Christmas. After scanning, participants answered a questionnaire about their Christmas traditions and the associations they have with Christmas. Brain activation maps from scanning were analysed for Christmas related activation in the "Christmas" and "non-Christmas" groups individually. Subsequently, differences between the two groups were calculated to determine Christmas specific brain activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant clusters of increased BOLD activation in the sensory motor cortex, the premotor and primary motor cortex, and the parietal lobule (inferior and superior) were found in scans of people who celebrate Christmas with positive associations compared with scans in a group having no Christmas traditions and neutral associations. These cerebral areas have been associated with spirituality, somatic senses, and recognition of facial emotion among many other functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a "Christmas spirit network" in the human brain comprising several cortical areas. This network had a significantly higher activation in a people who celebrate Christmas with positive associations as opposed to a people who have no Christmas traditions and neutral associations. Further research is necessary to understand this and other potential holiday circuits in the brain. Although merry and intriguing, these findings should be interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Centre and Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hougaard
authors.affiliation: Functional Imaging Unit and Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshopitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Centre and Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nanna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arngrim
authors.affiliation: Functional Imaging Unit and Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshopitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik B W
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Centre and Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olesen
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Centre and Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Faisal Mohammad
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Centre and Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Messoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashina
authors.affiliation: Functional Imaging Unit and Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshopitalet, Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark bryan.haddock@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Bryan T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Haddock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002835:Christianity / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D029181:Spirituality; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology