Hormones released while having sex can increase spirituality and belief in God, scientists from the Duke University in North Carolina claim in a new study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
According to the research, the release of oxytocin, produced naturally in the hypothalamus does not only promote social bonding and help childbirth in women, but when released during sex, it stimulates increased feelings of religiousness.
The American University research team carried out an experimental study in which they boosted levels of oxytocin in middle-aged men and found increased self-reported spirituality on two separate measures and also that this effect remained significant a week later.
As part of the research, a control group which received a placebo did not report higher levels of spirituality. However, those who received the hormone reported more positive emotions during meditation.
Patty Van Cappallen, a social psychologist and lead author of the study said ‘Spirituality and meditation have each been linked to health and well-being in previous research.
‘We were interested in understanding biological factors that may enhance those spiritual experiences’. SOURCE: Kasatintin.com
