The Limbic System and the Soul: Evolution and the Neuroanatomy of Religious Experience
Zygon® March 2, 2001 R. Joseph 83 citations
Religious and spiritual experiences have evolutionary neurological foundations rooted in the limbic system, particularly the amygdala, hippocampus, and temporal lobe. These brain structures are responsible for trancelike states, dreaming, near-death and out-of-body experiences, and hallucinations of supernatural beings. Historical religious figures such as Abraham, Moses, Muhammad, and Jesus Christ are described as displaying limbic system hyperactivity, and patients report similar phenomena when these areas are stimulated. The limbic and temporal lobe structures account for sexual and violent aspects of religious behavior and are proposed to serve as a "transmitter to God," with their evolution making spiritual experience possible.