Spiritual experiences originate within primitive parts of the
human brain, structures shared by animals, like
dogs. Click to enlarge this
image.
iStockPhoto
Animals (not just people) likely have spiritual experiences,
according to a prominent neurologist who has analyzed the processes
of spiritual sensation for over three decades.
Research suggests that spiritual experiences originate deep within
primitive areas of the human brain -- areas shared by other animals
with brain structures like our own.
The trick, of course, lies in proving animals' experiences.
"Since only humans are capable of language that can communicate the
richness of spiritual experience, it is unlikely we will ever know
with certainty what an animal subjectively experiences," Kevin
Nelson, a professor of neurology at the University of Kentucky,
told Discovery News.
"Despite this limitation, it is still reasonable to conclude that
since the most primitive areas of our brain happen to be the
spiritual, then we can expect that animals are also capable of
spiritual experiences," added Nelson, author of the book "The
Spiritual Doorway in the Brain," which will be published in January
2011.
The finding is an extension of his research on humans, which has
been published in many peer-reviewed journals. A Neurology journal study, for
example, determined that out-of-body experiences in humans are
likely caused by the brain's arousal system, which regulates
different states of consciousness.
"In humans, we know that if we disrupt the (brain) region where
vision, sense of motion, orientation in the Earth's gravitational
field, and knowing the position of our body all come together, then
out-of-body experiences can be caused literally by the flip of a
switch," he said. "There is absolutely no reason to believe it is
any different for a dog, cat, or primate’s brain."
Other mammals also probably have near-death experiences comparable
to those reported by certain humans, he believes. Such people often
say they saw a light and felt as though they were moving down a
tunnel.
The tunnel phenomenon "is caused by the eye's susceptibility to the
low blood flow that occurs with fainting or cardiac arrest," he
said. "As blood flow diminishes, vision fails peripherally first.
There is no reason to believe that other animals are any different
from us."
Nelson added, "What they make of the tunnel is another matter."
The light aspect of near-death experiences can be explained by how
the visual system defines REM (rapid eye movement) consciousness,
he believes.
"In fact," he said, "the link between REM and the physiological
crises causing near-death experience are most strongly linked in
animals, like cats and rats, which we can study in the
laboratory."
Mystical experiences -- moments that inspire a sense of mystery and
wonderment -- arise within the limbic system, he said. When
specific parts of this system are removed from animal brains,
mind-altering drugs like LSD have no effect.
Since other animals, such as non-human primates, horses, cats and
dogs, also possess similar brain structures, it is possible that
they too experience mystical moments, and may even have a sense of
spiritual oneness, according to Nelson.
Marc Bekoff, a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary
biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, also believes
animals have spiritual experiences, which he defines as experiences
that are nonmaterial, intangible, introspective and comparable to
what humans have.
Both he and primatologist Jane Goodall have observed chimpanzees
dancing with total abandon at waterfalls that emerge after heavy
rains. Some of the chimps even appear to dance themselves into a
trance-like state, as some humans do during religious and cultural
rituals.
Goodall wondered, "Is it not possible that these (chimpanzee)
performances are stimulated by feelings akin to wonder and awe?
After a waterfall display the performer may sit on a rock, his eyes
following the falling water. What is it, this water?"
"Perhaps numerous animals engage in these rituals, but we haven't
been lucky enough to see them," Bekoff wrote in a Psychology Today report.
"For now, let's keep the door open to the idea that animals can be
spiritual beings and let's consider the evidence for such a claim,"
he added.
"Meager as it is, available evidence says, 'Yes, animals can have
spiritual experiences,' and we need to conduct further research and
engage in interdisciplinary discussions before we say that animals
cannot and do not experience spirituality
http://news.discovery.com/animals/animals-spiritual-brain.html