Spiritual retreats change feel-good chemical systems in the brain, research finds
Researchers at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia have shown there are changes in the dopamine and serotonin systems in the brains of people who take part in spiritual, meditative and religious retreats.
The researchers conducted a study that included 14 Christian participants, aged 24 to 76, who attended a sevenday Ignatian retreat, spending much of their day in silent contemplation, prayer and reflection.
Postretreat scans revealed decreases of between 5 and 8 per cent in dopamine transporter, and 6.5 per cent in serotonin transporter binding, which could make more of the neurotransmitters – which are associated with positive emotions – available to the brain.
“Since serotonin and dopamine are part of the reward and emotional systems of the brain, it helps us understand why these practices result in powerful, positive emotional experiences,” said Andrew Newberg, MD and director of research in the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health.
“Our study showed significant changes in the dopamine and serotonin transporters after the sevenday retreat, which could help prime participants for the spiritual experiences that they reported.”
The study has interesting implications for the spa industry, where many destination locations offer regular sevenday retreats which include silent meditation and other spiritual elements.
