Spirituality News

March 31, 2025

Top Headlines

Mar. 12, 2025 — As a child, did it ever occur to you that your perception of color differed from that of others? It's quite common to have this thought, but it turns out that the human color experience may be more universal than we previously believed. In ...

Yawn! Many People Are Bored by Spiritual Practice

Mar. 6, 2025 — We commonly consider spiritual practices sources of peace and inspiration. A recent study shows that they can also be experienced differently: Many persons feel bored during these practices -- and this can have far-reaching consequences. The results ...

Scientific Insights Into How Humans Access Deep Spiritual States

Feb. 19, 2025 — Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices -- Buddhist jhana meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues -- have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests. While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other ...

Meditation Induces Changes in Deep Brain Areas Associated With Memory and Emotional Regulation

Feb. 4, 2025 — Findings provide insight about its potential as a noninvasive ...

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Psychotic-Like Experiences in Adolescents Linked to Depression and Self-Destructive Behavior

Nov. 19, 2024 — Psychotic-like experiences, such as suspiciousness and unusual thoughts, are common among adolescents who are referred to adolescent psychiatric ...

Egyptians Drank Hallucinogenic Cocktails in Ancient Rituals, Study Confirms

Nov. 15, 2024 — Scholars for the first time identified chemical signatures of the components of a liquid concoction contained in a Bes mug. A new technique helped identify a sample flavored with honey, sesame seeds, ...

Nixing Narcolepsy Nightmares

Oct. 23, 2024 — A new study has demonstrated a new way to treat narcolepsy-related nightmares. The scientists combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and lucid dreaming to help patients in a small clinical ...

Men and Women Process Pain Differently, Study Finds

Oct. 16, 2024 — According to new research, men and women rely on different biological systems for pain relief, which could help explain why our most powerful pain medications are often less effective in ...

Identifying Body-Scan Postures Suitable for People With Hyperactivity Tendency

Sep. 17, 2024 — Mindfulness practices have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, many people ...

'Out-of-Body' Research Could Lead to New Ways to Promote Social Harmony

Sep. 9, 2024 — Out-of-body experiences, such as near-death experiences, can have a 'transformative' effect on people's ability to experience empathy and connect with others, new research ...

Brain Scans Reveal That Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Is Not a Placebo

Sep. 5, 2024 — Brain scans reveal that mindfulness meditation engages different neural pathways compared to placebo, demonstrating that pain relief from mindfulness meditation is not the result of the placebo ...

Travel Could Be the Best Defense Against Aging

Sep. 5, 2024 — Forget about retinol night creams, researchers believe travel could be the best way to defy premature aging. An interdisciplinary study has applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that ...

How Hope Beats Mindfulness When Times Are Tough

Aug. 30, 2024 — A recent study finds that hope appears to be more beneficial than mindfulness at helping people manage stress and stay professionally engaged during periods of prolonged stress at work. The study ...

Crucial Insights on Loneliness and Death Ideation Among Older Adults

Aug. 28, 2024 — New research highlights the growing problem of death ideation and the increasing rates of both loneliness and suicidal thoughts among older individuals. The study explores the critical issue of ...

Only Certain Paranormal Beliefs May Be Linked With More Stress and Distress

Nov. 13, 2024 — In a new study, feelings of distress and reduced ability to cope with stress were associated with traditional paranormal beliefs, but not with new age ...

Just 10 Minutes of Mindfulness Daily Boosts Wellbeing and Fights Depression

Aug. 22, 2024 — New research reveals how short bursts of daily mindfulness can boost wellbeing, combat depression and anxiety, and inspire healthier lifestyle ...

Growth from Adversity: How Older Adults Bounced Back from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aug. 20, 2024 — The study highlights the remarkable resilience of older adults (median age 86) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to their routines led many to discover new hobbies like gardening and painting ...

Mindfulness Training May Lead to Altered States of Consciousness

July 17, 2024 — Mindfulness training may lead participants to experience disembodiment and unity -- so-called altered states of consciousness -- according to a new ...

Psilocybin Generates Psychedelic Experience by Disrupting Brain Network

July 17, 2024 — Researchers report that psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, destabilizes a critical network of brain areas involved in introspective thinking. The findings provide a neurobiological ...

Ultrasound Technology Can Be Used to Boost Mindfulness, Study Finds

July 11, 2024 — In a new study, researchers used low-intensity ultrasound technology to noninvasively alter a brain region associated with activities such as daydreaming, recalling memories and envisioning the ...

How Stress Knocks out Your Cognitive Reserve

June 4, 2024 — While mentally stimulating activities and life experiences can improve cognition in memory clinic patients, stress undermines this beneficial ...

Psychedelic Drug-Induced Hyperconnectivity in the Brain Helps Clarify Altered Subjective Experiences

May 23, 2024 — A new study shows that the use of psilocybin, a compound found in the widely known 'magic mushrooms,' initiates a pattern of hyperconnectivity in the brain linked to the ego-modifying ...

Yoga and Meditation-Induced Altered States of Consciousness Are Common in the General Population

May 20, 2024 — A new study finds that altered states of consciousness associated with yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and other practices are common, and mostly positive or even transformative, but that for some ...

New Study Reveals How Teens Thrive Online: Factors That Shape Digital Success Revealed

May 3, 2024 — A new study sheds light on the role that new and traditional media play in promoting and affecting character development, emotions, prosocial behavior and well-being (aka happiness) in ...

In Psychedelic Therapy, Clinician-Patient Bond May Matter Most

Apr. 22, 2024 — Drug effects have dominated the national conversation about psychedelics for medical treatment, but a new study suggests that when it comes to reducing depression with psychedelic-assisted therapy, ...

Study Reveals How Humanity Could Unite to Address Global Challenges

Apr. 16, 2024 — New research has found that perceptions of globally shared life experiences and globally shared biology can strengthen psychological bonding with humanity at large, which can motivate prosocial ...

Mindfulness at Work Protects Against Stress and Burnout

Feb. 25, 2024 — A new study has revealed that employees who are more mindful in the digital workplace are better protected against stress, anxiety and overload. Researchers analyzed survey data from 142 ...

Relationships With Caring Adults Provide a Buffer Against Depression, Anxiety, Regardless of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Jan. 18, 2024 — A new study sought to identify factors that would bolster resilience for marginalized and minoritized youth, using data from the Boricua Youth Study, a longitudinal study following three generations ...

Combine Mindfulness With Exercise for Mental Health Boost in 2024

Jan. 2, 2024 — New research shows how combining mindfulness with exercise boosts people's mental health and well-being and could help change exercise ...

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Future Mortality Risk

Dec. 19, 2023 — Groundbreaking research has shed new light on the link between childhood adversity and future risk of early ...

Thinking About God Inspires Risk-Taking for Believers, Study Finds

Dec. 14, 2023 — Does thinking about faith make religious people more likely to take leaps? A new study says yes, finding that participants were more likely to take risks when thinking about God as a benevolent ...

Meditation Training Can Support Wellbeing in Older Adults

Dec. 1, 2023 — Following an 18-month meditation program can improve the wellbeing of older adults, finds a new randomized controlled trial by an international ...

Distinct Brain Activity Triggered by Memories of Trauma

Nov. 30, 2023 — It is well known that people who have lived through traumatic events like sexual assault, domestic abuse, or violent combat can experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including ...

Simulating Cold Sensation Without Actual Cooling

Oct. 23, 2023 — The perception of persistent thermal sensations, such as changes in temperature, tends to gradually diminish in intensity as our bodies become accustomed to the temperature. This phenomenon leads to ...