Freethought & Rationalism Archive

AdamWho · 09-01-2002, 06:28 PM

This week (9/1/02) on the radio show <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/pages/archive02.html#220" target="_blank"> This American Life</a>. The topic was on testosterone and its psychological effects. The first "episode" was about a man who had very low testosterone (some medical reason) and how it affected him. The interesting thing was that he described an experience similar to the Buddhist concept of enlightenment.

I know this is only anecdotal evidence, but is this effect known in the literature? If it is then is there a case for showing that the "disinterested oneness" described in eastern religions is just some chemical state rather than a form of knowledge?
A confirmation would go a long way to explain why women seem more drawn to the new-age eastern stuff then men.

Note: The real-audio is now posted

[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: AdamWho ]</p>

lpetrich · 09-01-2002, 07:51 PM

Mystical experiences can be induced in a variety of ways -- fasting, frenzied dancing, ...

"If you eat too little, you see heaven, while if you drink too much, you see snakes", as Bertrand Russell had commented to someone who had a taste for fasting so she could have visions.

Secular Pinoy · 09-02-2002, 04:06 AM

I don't know about testosterone levels, but a study has a different take on paranormal beliefs and body chemistry: <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992589" target="_blank">Paranormal beliefs linked to brain chemistry</a>.

Quote:

Whether or not you believe in the paranormal may depend entirely on your brain chemistry. People with high levels of dopamine are more likely to find significance in coincidences, and pick out meaning and patterns where there are none.

AdamWho · 09-02-2002, 11:00 AM

The mystical experiences were very particular; they included a complete lack of desire, a sense of oneness and a constant feeling that everything is beautiful.
The experiences described seem to perfectly matched with Budhists / New Age descriptions of enlightenment.

MadMordigan · 09-02-2002, 01:23 PM

People with high levels of dopamine are more likely to find significance in coincidences, and pick out meaning and patterns where there are none.

I get that when I smoke dope and listen to Floyd.

09-01-2002, 06:28 PM	#1
AdamWho Contributor Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 13,389	Low testosterone induced mystical experiences This week (9/1/02) on the radio show <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/pages/archive02.html#220" target="_blank"> This American Life</a>. The topic was on testosterone and its psychological effects. The first "episode" was about a man who had very low testosterone (some medical reason) and how it affected him. The interesting thing was that he described an experience similar to the Buddhist concept of enlightenment. I know this is only anecdotal evidence, but is this effect known in the literature? If it is then is there a case for showing that the "disinterested oneness" described in eastern religions is just some chemical state rather than a form of knowledge? A confirmation would go a long way to explain why women seem more drawn to the new-age eastern stuff then men. Note: The real-audio is now posted [ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: AdamWho ]</p>

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09-01-2002, 07:51 PM	#2
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	Mystical experiences can be induced in a variety of ways -- fasting, frenzied dancing, ... "If you eat too little, you see heaven, while if you drink too much, you see snakes", as Bertrand Russell had commented to someone who had a taste for fasting so she could have visions.

09-02-2002, 11:00 AM	#4
AdamWho Contributor Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 13,389	The mystical experiences were very particular; they included a complete lack of desire, a sense of oneness and a constant feeling that everything is beautiful. The experiences described seem to perfectly matched with Budhists / New Age descriptions of enlightenment.

09-02-2002, 01:23 PM	#5
MadMordigan Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 2,704	People with high levels of dopamine are more likely to find significance in coincidences, and pick out meaning and patterns where there are none. I get that when I smoke dope and listen to Floyd.

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