If you attendÂed the recent SociÂety for NeuÂroÂscience conÂferÂence, you had the chance to see some unpreceÂdentÂed 3D imagÂing of the brain — images that showed the exact order in which womÂen’s brain regions (80 in total) are actiÂvatÂed in the sequence leadÂing to an orgasm. For BarÂry KomisÂaruk (proÂfesÂsor of psyÂcholÂoÂgy at RutÂgers UniÂverÂsiÂty), this imagÂing isn’t graÂtuÂitous. The whole point is to demysÂtiÂfy how the brain expeÂriÂences pleaÂsure, someÂthing that could evenÂtuÂalÂly inform our underÂstandÂing of addicÂtion and depresÂsion. KomisÂaruk said:
It’s a beauÂtiÂful sysÂtem in which to study the brain’s conÂnecÂtivÂiÂty. We expect that this movie [above], a dynamÂic repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtion of the gradÂual buildup of brain activÂiÂty to a cliÂmax, folÂlowed by resÂoÂluÂtion, will facilÂiÂtate our underÂstandÂing of pathoÂlogÂiÂcal conÂdiÂtions such as anorÂgasÂmia by emphaÂsizÂing where in the brain the sequenÂtial process breaks down.
MeanÂwhile, back at the neuÂroÂscience ranch, researchers are also using imagÂing techÂnolÂoÂgy to observe the human brain in anothÂer state, the state where peoÂple expeÂriÂence mysÂtiÂcal awakÂenÂings durÂing prayer and medÂiÂtaÂtion or othÂer spirÂiÂtuÂal epiphaÂnies. SciÂenÂtifÂic AmerÂiÂcan took a fairÂly deep look at this cutÂting-edge field sevÂerÂal years ago (read the full piece here), and now NPR has proÂduced a mulÂtiÂmeÂdia glimpse into the evolvÂing sciÂence of spirÂiÂtuÂalÂiÂty. The preÂsenÂtaÂtion (click here or the image above) comÂbines audio, video, artiÂcles, book excerpts, etc. and delves into the funÂdaÂmenÂtal quesÂtion: Is God a deluÂsion creÂatÂed by brain chemÂistry, or is brain chemÂistry a necÂesÂsary conÂduit for peoÂple to reach God?
If you want to learn more about the brain and neuÂroÂscience, don’t miss the coursÂes listÂed in the Psychology/Neuroscience secÂtion of our big colÂlecÂtion of Free Online CoursÂes.
Time and The Guardian have more on the first stoÂry above here and here.


