Would such results tell us that the comfort of increased religious activity in late life comes about, not by increased meditation/prayer but by atrophy? Wow! Joann Jelly
_____ From: Carol DeVolder [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sun 6/26/2011 10:13 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Religious Factors and Hippocampal Atrophy I'd love to hear others' take on this: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0017006 It is an article in PloS One entitled Religious Factors and Hippocampal Atrophy in Late Life. Here's the abstract: Despite a growing interest in the ways spiritual beliefs and practices are reflected in brain activity, there have been relatively few studies using neuroimaging data to assess potential relationships between religious factors and structural neuroanatomy. This study examined prospective relationships between religious factors and hippocampal volume change using high-resolution MRI data of a sample of 268 older adults. Religious factors assessed included life-changing religious experiences, spiritual practices, and religious group membership. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed using the GRID program, which is based on a manual point-counting method and allows for semi-automated determination of region of interest volumes. Significantly greater hippocampal atrophy was observed for participants reporting a life-changing religious experience. Significantly greater hippocampal atrophy was also observed from baseline to final assessment among born-again Protestants, Catholics, and those with no religious affiliation, compared with Protestants not identifying as born-again. These associations were not explained by psychosocial or demographic factors, or baseline cerebral volume. Hippocampal volume has been linked to clinical outcomes, such as depression, dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease. The findings of this study indicate that hippocampal atrophy in late life may be uniquely influenced by certain types of religious factors. Carol -- Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology St. Ambrose University 518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 563-333-6482 This e-mail might be confidential, so please don't share it. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13010.76185584223b2f7b9f3a91a2f9913135 <http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13010.76185584223b2f7b9f3a91a2f9913135&n=T&l=tips&o=11152> &n=T&l=tips&o=11152 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-11152-13010.76185584223b2f7b9f3a91a2f9913...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=11172 or send a blank email to leave-11172-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
