Jennifer Viegas writing for Discovery News on Oct. 8, 2010 http://news.discovery.com
The reporter said animals (not just people) are likely have spiritual experiences. She then referred
to a prominent neurologist "who has analyzed the processes of spiritual sensation for over three decades."
The story went on to say research suggests that "spiritual experiences originate deep within primitive areas of the human brain — areas shared by other animals with brain structures like our own."
She then quoted Kevin Nelson, a professor of neurology at the University of Kentucky as saying,"Since only humans are capable of language that can communicate the richness of spiritual experience, it is unlikely we will ever know with certainty what an animal subjectively experiences."
According to the reporter, the finding is an extension of his research on humans, which has been published in many peer-reviewed journals. A Neurology journal study, for example, determined that out-of-body experiences in humans are likely caused by the brain’s arousal system, which regulates different states of consciousness.
The Discovery News journalist then quoted Prof. Nelson again as saying, "In humans, we know that if we disrupt the (brain) region where vision, sense of motion, orientation in the Earth’s gravitational field, and knowing the position of our body all come together, then out-of-body experiences can be caused literally by the flip of a switch,and there is absolutely no reason to believe it is any different for a dog, cat, or primate’s brain."
Other mammals also probably have near-death experiences comparable to those reported by certain humans, he believes. Such people often say they saw a light and felt as though they were moving down a tunnel, she wrote.
She quoted Prof. Nelson as saying,"the tunnel phenomenon "is caused by the eye’s susceptibility to the low blood flow that occurs with fainting or cardiac arrest."
"As blood flow diminishes, vision fails peripherally first. There is no reason to believe that other animals are any different from us."
According to the reporter, Prof. Nelson asserted the light aspect of near-death experiences can be explained by how the visual system defines REM (rapid eye movement) consciousness.
She then quoted Nelson as saying, "In fact, "the link between REM and the physiological crises causing near-death experience are most strongly linked in animals, like cats and rats, which we can study in the laboratory."
Prof. Nelson explained mystical experiences — moments that inspire a sense of mystery and wonderment — arise within the limbic system, When specific parts of this system are removed from animal brains, mind-altering drugs like LSD have no effect.
Since other animals, such as non-human primates, horses, cats and dogs, also possess similar brain structures, it is possible that they too experience mystical moments, and may even have a sense of spiritual oneness, according to Nelson, the reporter wrote.
The story went on to say, "Marc Bekoff, a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, also believes animals have spiritual experiences, which he defines as experiences that are nonmaterial, intangible, introspective and comparable to what humans have."
The Discovery News journalist pointed out "both he and primatologist Jane Goodall have observed chimpanzees dancing with total abandon at waterfalls that emerge after heavy rains. Some of the chimps even appear to dance themselves into a trance-like state, as some humans do during religious and cultural rituals."
She concluded the story by referring to a question raised by Goodall: "Is it not possible that these (chimpanzee) performances are stimulated by feelings akin to wonder and awe? After a waterfall display the performer may sit on a rock, his eyes following the falling water. What is it, this water?"
The reporter then quoted Beckoff’s words drawn from a Psychology Today report. "Perhaps numerous animals engage in these rituals, but we haven’t been lucky enough to see them,.
"For now, let’s keep the door open to the idea that animals can be spiritual beings and let’s consider the evidence for such a claim," he added.
"Meager as it is, available evidence says, ‘Yes, animals can have spiritual experiences,’ and we need to conduct further research and engage in interdisciplinary discussions before we say that animals cannot and do not experience spirituality."
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