Potential for Future Research

While our current research primarily aims to unravel the intricate connections between brain mechanisms and experience, there are compelling indications that prayer, especially speaking in tongues, might yield beneficial effects.

Established Relaxation Response: The relaxation response, a well-documented physiological state, is a fundamental aspect of prayer that has been well established as beneficial in a host of clinical contexts including treatment of headaches, insomnia, and cardiovascular disorders as it has been shown to reduce inflammation and stress.

Significance of Selflessness in Psychiatry: Selflessness, self-renunciation, abnegation or in scientific terms “self-transcendence” is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool in predicting therapeutic outcomes. In the realm of mental health, where conditions like depression and anxiety disorders impact millions globally, psychiatry is turning its attention to non-ordinary states of consciousness (NSC). These include experiences such as awe, meditation, and psychedelic use. Early research suggests that mystical-type experiences, often characterized by a diminished sense of self (ego-dissolution), play a pivotal role in reported positive effects. Notably, there is a dearth of research into the neurophysiology and health implications of non-pharmacologically induced NSCs such as speaking in tongues. We are just beginning a study of tongues prayer and compassion.

Therapeutic Applications in Addiction Recovery: Within thousands of rehabilitation centers affiliated with charismatic churches, prayer, particularly speaking in tongues, is seen as a primary therapeutic mechanism for addiction treatment. Our prior study demonstrated deactivation of the preSMA, a region associated with routinized motor patterns essential in the cascade of automated addiction responses and associated with addiction recovery in lesion studies. The potential implications for addiction recovery warrant further exploration and could offer valuable insights for rehabilitation practices.