Ecstasy from a physiological point of view
Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis January 16, 2019 Kaj Björkqvist
The biological study of humans is advancing rapidly, and these methods can be applied to studying ecstasy and religious phenomena. Drugs have been used worldwide as an ecstasy technique. Mental states and physiological correlates always accompany each other, so the mind can be affected by external means like drugs, and mental changes also affect the body. Ecstasy is described as an extremely joyful experience with a physiological basis; the discovery of pleasure centers in the brain might offer an explanation. It is suggested that euphoric ecstasy may be connected to a cerebral pleasure center, possibly through changes in transmitter substances, hormonal balance, or brain waves. When using an ecstasy technique within a religious tradition, a traditional interpretation of the experience already exists.