The Serotonin System and Spiritual Experiences
American Journal of Psychiatry November 1, 2003 Jacqueline Borg, Bengt Andrée, Henrik Söderström et al. 247 citations
In 15 normal male subjects aged 20–45, the density of serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptors, measured with PET imaging, correlated inversely with scores for self-transcendence, a personality trait that includes religious behavior and attitudes. No correlations appeared for the other six dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory. Further analysis showed that the subscale for spiritual acceptance, but not the other two subscales of self-transcendence, was significantly linked to receptor binding potential. The finding suggests the serotonin system may serve as a biological basis for spiritual experiences, and the several-fold variability in receptor density may help explain why people differ greatly in spiritual zeal.