Religion
Religion is central to the lives of billions of people worldwide, yet neuroscientists have been slow in recognizing its importance and in studying religious experiences, expressions and behaviors. We are attempting to identify reliable neurocognitive correlates of religious experiences. Click here to see some of our selected publications. Please email Dr. Patrick McNamara if you would like to obtain any of these reprints.
Our current study is looking at how people with Parkinson’s cope using religion, and how their religiosity may have changed since their diagnosis. In past studies, he has found that those who have left side of onset PD, compared to those who have right side onset, are more likely to lose their connection to their religion. This can be problematic and even devastating, especially if that person would have used religion as a coping mechanism in the past. Not only are they unable to find the same connection they had with religion before, but they likely don’t know why that connection has been lost. Click here to find out more about or current study on religion and Parkinson’s.
