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Science Catholics get pain relief from Virgin Mary
Science Catholics get pain relief from Virgin Mary | Catholics get pain relief from Virgin Mary |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Monday, 13 October 2008 | |
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Page 3 of 3 The study is thought to be the first time that religious-based pain resistance was associated with the VLPFC. In other words, a positive attribute (viewing of the Virgin Mary) helped to make religious people cope better when a negative action is inflicted on them (electrical pulses). Featured Whitepaper
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Science DiscussionsThe conclusion of the study is a step closer for scientists being able to understand how society and culture—in this case, religion—can positively affect different parts of the brain. The Ciência article concludes, “Wiech, Farias and colleagues’ work reveals, for the first time, the neurological basis behind altered pain sensitivity during intense religious experiences. Although their hypothesis of pain reassessment meaning during religious experiences needs further investigation to be confirmed, these results are undoubtedly an important first step towards a better understanding of the neural mechanisms associated with pain control and, as such, in the direction of better pain coping treatments.” It adds, “And these can include, not only drugs targeting activation of brain areas associated with pain resistance, but even cognitive therapies based on the induction of similar emotional states to those produced by religion.” Dr. Farias states, “This is an extremely fascinating area and there is no doubt that the brain and our emotions can directly affect our physical being. After all, we all know how stress can damage our health, or, how, when we are depressed, it is so much easier to get a cold. But we know much less about the brain’s positive effects, for example, how can we explain studies that suggest that religious individuals seem to have longer and healthier lives?” Farias concludes, “This is what we want to understand in order to be able to use the knowledge to improve, for example, the life of pain patients.” [Ciência] |
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