Brain scans from Dr. Andrew Newberg’s research
Huffington Post’s series, Deep Dive, explores connections between faith, spirituality, and mind-altering substances.
The second video in the series, hosted by science reporter and series creator Josh Zepps, explores the spiritual use of psychoactive drugs. In this segment, Zepps interviews Roland R. Griffiths, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at John Hopkins University, who completed a study on psychoactives and spirituality which we covered earlier this year.
Griffiths talks about the conclusions he is reaching from his studies, before Zepps turns to Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist who has studied the effects of prayer and meditation on the brain and found similarities in brain scans. Later, Richard Doyle, author of “Darwin’s Pharmacy”, shares his first-hand experience with psychedelic use on the Amazon and his own transformation from being secular to religious as a result.
You can watch the 30 minute program below (no transcript is available).
Are you interested in the work these researchers are doing? What do you think might account for the similarities in brain function they’ve found?
Posted by David Streever