Religiosity is associated with hippocampal but not amygdala volumes in patients with refractory epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship between the behavioural triad of hyper-religiosity, hypergraphia and hyposexuality in epilepsy, and volumes of the mesial temporal structures. Method: Magnetic resonance images were obtained from 33 patients with refractory epilepsy and mesial temporal structure volumes assessed. Amygdala and hippocampal volumes were then compared in high and low scorers on the religiosity, writing, and sexuality sub-scales of the Neurobehavioural Inventory. Results: Patients with high ratings on the religiosity scale had significantly smaller right hippocampi. Religiosity scores rated by both patient and carer showed a significant negative correlation with right hippocampal volumes in this group. There were no other differences in amygdala or hippocampal volumes between these groups, or between high and low scorers on the writing and sexuality sub-scales. Conclusions: These findings suggest that right hippocampal volumes are negatively correlated with religiosity in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Cross-cultural translation of the INSPIRIT-R for Brazil and its applicability among epilepsy patients

“…This finding agrees with most studies linking religiosity / spirituality with TLE [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][23][24][25] . Trimble and Freeman 7 applied the INSPIRIT instrument in its modified form to compare religious experiences among patients with epilepsy who were religious with the religious experiences among patients with epilepsy who were not religious, and with a third group of non-epileptic churchgoers.…”

“…The types of experience and their content vary among patients and depend on their religious / spiritual / cultural and personal backgrounds 3,4 . These symptoms may precede complex partial seizures or progress to secondarily generalized seizures, and may also occur after a seizure, as postictal psychosis [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . In addition, many of these patients exhibit interictal behavior characterized by hyperreligiosity, tendency to write copiously (hypergraphia) and lack of sexual interest (loss of libido and impotence), featuring the Gastaut-Geschwind syndrome 7,8 .…”

“…These symptoms may precede complex partial seizures or progress to secondarily generalized seizures, and may also occur after a seizure, as postictal psychosis [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . In addition, many of these patients exhibit interictal behavior characterized by hyperreligiosity, tendency to write copiously (hypergraphia) and lack of sexual interest (loss of libido and impotence), featuring the Gastaut-Geschwind syndrome 7,8 . Religiosity and spirituality are considered important allies of people who suffer and/or are diseased 11 .…”

Is our brain hardwired to produce God, or is our brain hardwired to perceive God? A systematic review on the role of the brain in mediating religious experience

“…Waxman & Geschwind, 1975+ Bear & Fedio, 1977+ Bear, 1979+ Bear et al, 1982 + review by Csernansky et al, 1990 + review by Saver & Rabin, 1997+ Wuerfel et al, 2004+ MacDonald & Holland, 2002+ Morneau et al, 1996+ Persinger, 1984+ Diduca & Joseph, 1997+ White et al, 1995+ Feldman & Rust, 1989+ Peters et al, 1999+ Spencer, 1975+ Fenwick et al, 1985+ Cothran & Harvey, 1986 (b) Not all people with psychopathological disorders have religious experience.…”

“…Saxe et al, 2004Bear et al, 1982Bear & Fedio, 1977Britton & Bootzin, 2004Persinger & Makarec, 1987Lehmann, et al, 2001Aftanas & Golocheikine, 2001Wuerfel et al, 2004Brugger & Graves, 1997Fenwick et al, 1985MacDonald & Holland, 2002Morneau et al, 1996Persinger, 1984 …”