The Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine

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The Neurobiology of the Soul

I think that the human brain and nervous system is the epitome of all of creation in this universe. The sheer volume of cells comprising this ‘engineering marvel’ of nature is staggering to me, while the complexity of the system would dwarf the intelligence behind the fastest and most powerful computers on Earth. The nervous architectural schema, from the level of the ultra-minute dendritic spine to the most complex computational structure of peripheral and central nervous function is quite amazing indeed.

The Calculus of Leibnitz and Newton, the ‘Seven Wonders of the World,’ and all fine art, music and poetry that ever was or ever could be are outputs of this most unique system. All religious ideas and every complexity of physics, chemistry, biology and medicine are among the outputs of this computational wonder programmed for survival. Each of our emotions and all of our hopes and dreams are part of this magnificent cybernetic system. Every dance danced, every play enacted and every speech ever conceived and spoken, when boiled down to its lowest common denominator, was programmed for us ‘to live and evolve to our greatest potential.’

I think that the highest, the most important, and the most powerful thing that we can do as humans is to appreciate, love, honor, create, and manifest beauty. Our sense of beauty is our grandest perception, while its manifestation is our loftiest goal. While the perfect symmetry of a beautiful face has ‘launched a thousand ships,’ the limbic systems within our brains are striving hard to assure that our genes are carried forward by the fittest, strongest, and most capable of organisms.

While some may claim that the pineal gland is the ‘seat of the soul,’ and the ‘eyes the windows of the soul,’ the ‘Godspot’ within the medial temporal lobe may be a close contender to both. Or perhaps these two computational elements represent two poles of the same system, both focused upon different aspects of beauty, akin to the brain/mind synthesis of Plato and opposed to the body-mind dualism of Descartes and Hippocrates. As above, so below!

From an eastern religious perspective, humans are said to have a variety of bodies, in addition our physical bodies. Names like ‘astral,’ ‘causal,’ ‘mental’, and ‘etheric’ bodies are commonly used western terms to describe the lower ones, supposedly ascribed to the realms of matter, energy, space, and time. The term ‘soul body’ may be used by some groups to describe what mystics have deemed closest to our pure essence. I think that while these concepts may be mind-boggling to the traditional western mind, the great influx of eastern docs and patients makes it important to understand their spiritual mindset. Whether modern evidenced-based medicines will ever link these higher bodies to the pineal gland is open to speculation, but fun to think about.

While we are on this line of esoteric thinking, it might also be interesting to think about the role of sleep and its relationship to the soul. Do we really travel to distant places during our sleep, as some postulate? If so, then perhaps the production of the sleep-inducing chemical, melatonin, may graduate from functional neurophysiology to the ‘seat of the soul.’ Following this line of logic, then the Reticular Activating System, (within the midbrain) might be considered to be part of a system that drives the soul!

While this is all speculation, and perhaps just fancy and fun, the very real human brain operates at a variety of frequencies and wavelengths that relate to different states of consciousness. Through modern EEG and related techniques, we now know some things that the ancients, including Kabir and Rumi, did not. As we change states of consciousness, our brainwaves also change into measurable and characteristic patterns. For example, in normal waking states, we tend to have high amounts of the faster beta and some slower alpha waves dominant. As we get into sleep states and so-called higher levels of awareness, our brain wave frequencies actually get slower. These theta and delta brainwave frequencies are also characteristic of advanced meditation. Are the resonant systems within the human brain oscillating with larger cosmic vibrations? My background in electrical engineering will not allow me to discount this far-reaching possibility. There are potential pearls of wisdom everywhere and the only way that I know to shift paradigms is to really think outside of the box. It is far too easy to just move to another corner of the box!

I find it interesting that not only do long time meditators spend more time in theta and delta states, but they also have characteristically high levels of endogenous opiods within their brains. These elevated ‘beta endorphins’ are well known to be linked with a sense of wellbeing, tranquility, and a profound sense of deep relaxation.

Now back to the ‘Godspot.’ This very special area in the temporal lobe has been the focal point of much current research and much more speculation. There is reason to believe that when the brainwaves in this region are rapid that humans tend to feel isolated and alone. Conversely, when the Godspot resonates at the slower brainwave frequencies, we tend to feel a sense of connectedness with each other and with all that is.

I think that this region of the human brain may be the Rosetta Stone that will open up many new vistas for the bold and adventurous neuroscientist and humanist alike. There are many questions that remain to be answered. Are there auditory pathways that are linked with the ‘Godspot’ that make us feel a sense of spirituality when we listen to what we perceive as sacred music? What about ‘sacred spaces’ within the domain of human architecture or the architects of nature. Why do we feel such a sense of profound beauty in such spaces? And, why does Frankincense add to the intensity of these feelings? Are entorhinal and olfactory cortex significant players in the neurobiology of spirit?

I am particularly fascinated by pioneers, such as neuropharmacologist Candice Pert’s discoveries that neuropeptides are present on the cells of both the brain and the immune system. She also found that there are higher levels of neuropepides in areas of the body close to those described in Hindu treatise on ‘energy’ centers along the spinal column. Current studies on the positive relationship between yoga and ‘anti-stress chemicals,’ like DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), have in my opinion expanded the concept of the ‘seat of the soul’ to include the whole body.

Of course, I also think that there may be some more pragmatic views to consider from within the realm of human evolution and survival. For example, there is evidence to suggest that hypertensive patients may benefit from art that mimics the African Savanna or parts of the English Countryside. Characteristics of the landscape, including trees and open spaces, may be very important cues to the pursuit of food and safety and the avoidance of becoming food for some other animal also trying to survive.

I think that there is a very real possibility that a central processing center, conveniently called the ‘Godspot’, may respond to a variety of inputs from the senses with a universal characteristic output. This output, in the form of wellbeing, connectedness and even divine love may very well help us to understand the sense of beauty, how beauty may be linked to survival and how the physical body and the ‘soul body’ may be connected! As above, so below….

Published: December 2, 2004