How does prayer affect our brain?

Many religions, if not all, have the habit of praying, which is nothing more than a conversation with a transcendent or divine being. And regardless of how you choose to practice this act, prayer can change your brain in very positive ways. Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues, […]

Many religions, if not all, have the habit of praying, which is nothing more than a conversation with a transcendent or divine being. And regardless of how you choose to practice this act, prayer can change your brain in very positive ways.

Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues, postdoctoral in Neuroscience, and member of Sigma Xifrom the Neuroscience Societyand the Royal Biological Societyexplains that prayer influences different regions of the brain in parallel, such as the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior and anterior cingulate cortex. “These brain regions are linked to self-reflection, decision-making and reaction to stimuli,” he points out.

An interpersonal exchange

The expert explains that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies show that during prayer the areas of the brain responsible for reasoning about the mental states of others (theory of mind) are activated, such as the temporoparietal junction and the medial prefrontal cortex. “This suggests that prayer is treated by the brain as a form of interpersonal communication, even with a non-physical entity,” he adds.

Prayer for pain control

Other studies, according to the Neuroscience postdoctoral fellow: “They demonstrate that prayer can modulate pain perception through a reduction in the activity of parieto-frontal networks, a process that occurs independently of opioid systems. This indicates that prayer can help with emotional regulation and attention control, reducing the experience of pain through cognitive mechanisms”.

Additionally, prayer also regulates regions of the brain related to stress and emotions, such as the amygdala. “This makes prayer effective in controlling stress and improving relaxation.”

Speaking of attention…

Fabiano says that individuals who pray often show better control over their brain activity, especially in networks related to attention and cognitive control. “This suggests that regular prayer practice may facilitate greater neurofeedback capacity. Potentially altering brain structure and function in a way that promotes self-regulation and focused attention,” he adds.

What is the importance of the act of prayer?

“Scientifically speaking, prayer is a type of meditation. Mainly modalities involving visualization and mantras, this is because prayer is a very broad term and includes several practices, but all show benefits of emotional balance and relaxation, which helps with mental health , allowing better control of stress, among others. Therefore, even outside the religious sphere, it is important to have a moment with oneself, of reflection, of gratitude, etc., calling it prayer or meditation”, replies the expert.

Source: Terra

Ben

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