The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Case for the Existence of the Soul

Do spiritual experiences come from God, or from the brain? Many scientists cling to the standard view that every cerebral event is triggered by some kind of physical factor. But science is unable to explain intuition, willpower, the "placebo effect" in medicine, or the sense of oneness with all of reality that occurs at times during meditation or prayer.

The Spiritual Brain gets to the real source of mystical experience. Authors Mario Beauregard and Denyse O'Leary explore current studies of spirituality, along with Beauregard's own research with Carmelite nuns. The authors present evidence that religious experiences have a non-physical origin, making a case for the possibility of a scientifically provable God.

Mario Beauregard is associate researcher at the Departments of Psychology and Radiology and the Neuroscience Research Center, Université de Montréal. His work in neurobiology and spirituality has received international media coverage. Dr. Beauregard was selected by the World Media Net as one of the One Hundred Pioneers of the 21st Century. He lives in Montreal, Canada.

Denyse O'Leary is a Toronto-based freelance journalist who specializes in faith and science issues. Her recent books include Faith@Science and By Design or by Chance? She is also a regular guest on the Canadian television show "Behind the Story," and writes for Islam Online.

"If you have a mind, you will find The Spiritual Brain a refreshing antidote to the strange arguments offered by some scientists who insist that their minds, and yours, are meaningless illusions."

- Dean Radin, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Institute of Noetic Sciences and author of The Conscious Universe and Entangled Minds

--Booklist (starred review)