closeicon
News

Going to shul has same effect on brain as opioids, study suggests

Research at Coventry University suggests feelings of social connection during collective prayer stimulate drug receptors 

articlemain

New research suggests that the feelings of social connection felt through collective ritual activities may have the same effect on the brain as opioids. 

A study from Coventry University found that the positive feeling that ritual gives could be lessened by medicine usually used to treat opiate addiction. 

It is the first solid evidence that receptors in the brain that are activated by drugs such as heroin are behind the surge of warmth felt through collective religious activity. 

Sarah Charles, a PhD researcher who lead the study, said: “I found that a specific type of chemical released in the brain, mu-opioids, plays a key role in the formation of bonds and that this is likely a reason for how common religious rituals are in society.” 

Similar to the high experienced during exercise, ritual “creates this feeling of pleasantness, of euphoria and social bonding.” 

The research, published in Biology Letters, looked at churchgoers and yoga classes. A different study conducted by the researchers also found that church attendance increased pain thresholds and enhanced social bonding.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive