Mystical Experiences Decoded: What Neuroscience Reveals About Transcendence

Mystical experiences have captivated humanity for millennia — moments when the self seems to dissolve and a profound unity with all existence is felt. But what happens in the brain during these transcendent states?

Neuroscientific research shows that the orientation association area, which normally maintains the boundary between self and environment, decreases its activity during mystical experiences. This reduction allows the usual sense of ‘I’ to fade, replaced by a feeling of boundless connection and timeless awareness.

Importantly, these experiences differ from hallucinations or psychosis. Mystical states are accompanied by positive emotions such as peace, joy, and awe, and the brain remains coherent and integrated. This explains why mystics often describe their experiences as transformative and healing.

Both passive meditation, which silences the mind, and active meditation, which focuses attention on spiritual objects, can induce these states. Rituals involving rhythm and repetition also facilitate the neurological conditions for transcendence.

Understanding the brain basis of mysticism not only demystifies these experiences but also validates their significance in human life. It opens new avenues for exploring consciousness and the nature of reality.

For those interested in the scientific and spiritual dimensions of mysticism, Andrew Newberg’s