Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Measuring Grey Matter Differences with Voxel-based Morphometry: The Musical Brain
Published on: April 30, 2023
The relationship between individual differences in gray matter volume and religiosity and mystical experiences: A
Michiel van Elk1,2, Lukas Snoek1,2,3
1Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
This study found no link between gray matter volume and religious belief or mystical experiences in 211 participants. Researchers suggest focusing on functional brain activity rather than structural differences to understand religious cognition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psychology
Background:
- The neural basis of religious belief and experience remains a complex and debated area.
- Previous research has explored potential links between religiosity and specific brain structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between validated measures of religiosity and mystical experiences and gray matter volume.
- To test specific hypotheses regarding brain structure and religious cognition using a confirmatory approach.
Main Methods:
- A large sample of 211 participants was analyzed.
- Confirmatory voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was employed.
- Region-of-interest (ROI) and whole-brain analyses were conducted.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between religiosity and gray matter volume in the orbito-frontal cortex or inferior parietal lobes.
- Mystical experiences were not linked to reduced gray matter volume in the hippocampus, middle temporal gyrus, or inferior parietal lobes.
- Whole-brain analysis revealed no structural brain differences associated with religiosity or mystical experiences.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence supporting a link between structural brain differences and religious belief or mystical experiences.
- Future research should explore functional and multivariate approaches to understand the neural correlates of religious cognition.
More Related Videos
11:50A Standardized Pipeline for Examining Human Cerebellar Grey Matter Morphometry using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: February 4, 2022
06:26Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images SDM-PSI
Published on: November 27, 2019
Related Concept Videos
09:17Measuring Grey Matter Differences with Voxel-based Morphometry: The Musical Brain
Experience shapes the brain. It is well understood that our brains are different as a result of learning. While many experience-related changes manifest themselves at the microscopic level, for example by neurochemical adjustments in the behavior of individual neurons, we may also examine anatomical changes to the structure of the brain at a macroscopic level. One famous example of this kind of...
11:50A Standardized Pipeline for Examining Human Cerebellar Grey Matter Morphometry using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging
06:26Meta-analysis of Voxel-Based Neuroimaging Studies using Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI)
06:52Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills
10:36Juxtasomal Biocytin Labeling to Study the Structure-function Relationship of Individual Cortical Neurons
07:12Individualized rTMS Treatment for Depression using an fMRI-Based Targeting Method