What does Lisa Miller say brain scans show about spirituality?

Columbia psychologist Lisa Miller told Hidden Brain that everyone is born with the same circuits for transcendent relationship. In an MRI study, people describing their relationship with a higher power engaged three networks, giving the perception of being loved, held, guided and never alone. Miller says the same circuits run whether someone is Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Christian or finds the divine in nature, and twin studies suggest the capacity is heritable.

• Miller defines this spirituality as a perceived relationship, not a belief.
• The same circuits, she says, also carry deep love toward other people and living beings.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Hidden Brain (2026-10-05). Read the whole episode summary →

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