Ecstasy from a physiological point of view

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The biological study of man is one of today's most rapidly advancing sciences. There is no reason for not utilizing these methodologies of research and the knowledge already gained when studying ecstasy and other similar religious phenomena. Drugs have been used in all parts of the world as an ecstasy technique. Since mental states and physiological correlates always accompany each other, it is obvious that the human mind can be affected by external means, for instance by drugs. But the opposite is also true; mental changes affect the body, as they do in the case of psychosomatic diseases. Ecstasy is often described as an extremely joyful experience; this pleasure must necessarily also have a physiological basis. It is of course too early to say anything for certain, but the discovery of pleasure centres in the brain might offer an explanation. It is not far-fetched to suggest that when a person experiences euphoric ecstasy, it might, in some way or other, be connected with a cerebral pleasure center. Can it be, for example, that religious ecstasy is attained only by some mechanism triggering off changes in the balance of the transmitter substances? Or is it reached only via a change in the hormonal balance, or only by a slowing down of the brain waves, or is a pleasure centre activated? When a person is using an ecstasy technique, he usually does so within a religious tradition. When he reaches an experience, a traditional interpretation of it already exists.