Everything is good in moderation
Researchers at Duke University, working under the leadership of Martha E. Payne, found that individuals belonging to certain religious groups, as well as those without religious preferences, have atrophy of the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in the mechanisms of emotion formation and long–term memory. This result surprised scientists, as the results of many previous studies indicate that religion has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scientists estimated the volume of the hippocampus of 268 men and women over the age of 58. Initially, these people were invited to participate in a study on the impact of depression on the state of the nervous system and cognitive function of the elderly (NeuroCognitive Outcomes of Depression in the Elderly). They also answered questions about their religious beliefs and religion. Among the believers, two subgroups were singled out separately: those who were confirmed in the faith after the trials (born-again) and those who experienced events related to religion that changed their lives.
The results of the analysis of the tomography results showed significantly more pronounced atrophy of the hippocampus in both Catholics and Protestants from the two above–mentioned subgroups, as well as in atheists - compared with Protestants who did not experience any religious-related mental shocks.
Scientists suggest that hippocampal atrophy in certain religious groups may be associated with stress exposure. They believe that members of religious minorities defending their rights are exposed to more pronounced stressful influences. This is accompanied by the production of stress hormones, which, indeed, over time can lead to a decrease in the volume of the hippocampus. This may be an explanation for the fact that both non-believers and part of the believing individuals are characterized by a more pronounced atrophy of the hippocampus.
There is a lot of scientific evidence proving the positive impact of religiosity and spirituality on mental health, but there are also a lot of negative examples. There are cases of persecution of members of religious groups, in addition, belonging to a religious minority can complicate existence in any society. A person can also be constantly under stress due to the constant threat of divine punishment. There are many such examples, and all of them can theoretically have a negative effect on the brain. On the other hand, religion is traditionally considered a very important mechanism for dealing with stress.
The authors note that their study is not without drawbacks, such as a small sample size. They also emphasize the difficulty of identifying the direct relationship between changes in hippocampal volume and religion. However, the data obtained confirm the existence of complex mechanisms of the influence of faith on the brain, the study of which will help improve our understanding of religion, spirituality and brain functioning.
Article by Owen et al. Religious Factors and Hippocampal Atrophy in Late Life is published on March 30 in the journal PLoS One.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on Scientific American: Religious Experiences Shrink Part of the Brain.
06.06.2011