Neuroscientists discovers the 'God Spot' in the brain that boosts mysticism

Throughout history, many people have claimed to have had mystical experiences, often reporting feeling a deeply spiritual connection which leaves them permanently changed.

Now researchers have found that the doors of perception may be kept shut by inhibitory mechanisms in the brain, but dialing these down could be the key to 'blowing the doors wide open'.

'The frontal lobes are the most evolved areas of the human brain, and help control and make sense of the perceptual input we get from the world,' senior author Dr Jordan Grafman of the RIC, said recently.

'When the frontal lobes' inhibitory functions are suppressed, a door of perception can open, increasing the chances of mystical experiences.'

Dr Irene Cristofori, also from the RIC, added: 'Our study supports the 'pull' theory, as those who suffered traumatic injury to 'God Spots' were more likely to have mystical experiences,'

'This suggests that these spots may be linked to inhibitory cognitive functions, and a suppression of these functions, which typically help us regulate and resolve our perceptual experiences, appears to open up a 'door of perception', exposing people to more mystical experiences.'

Dr Grafman said: 'Besides damage to the frontal lobes of the brain, other brain states associated with stress or distress, extreme circumstances, prior strong beliefs, and heightened emotions - in addition to mind altering medications - could all lead to a higher probability of having a mystical experience since all of these states may affect the key frontal lobe regions involved in modulating interpretations of perceptual experience.'

The findings are published in the journal Neuropsychologia.