22/01/2026
🌀Your brain on prayer might actually look different🧑⚕️
🕵️New research suggests that consistent prayer and contemplative practices can lead to measurable changes in both brain function and structure.
🗣️Here's what the science shows:
When people engage in regular prayer, studies observe increased activity in the frontal lobes. These are the brain regions responsible for focused attention, emotional regulation, and decision-making. Think of it like a mental workout. 🧠
👉Just as lifting weights strengthens muscle over time, repeatedly directing your focus and engaging in self-reflection may strengthen the neural circuits in these areas.
👉With long-term practice, researchers have even observed structural adaptations, including increased thickness in the prefrontal cortex. This is neuroplasticity in action.
🕵️Some studies have also found that certain types of prayer activate the brain's reward systems, which may help explain why many people find these practices so meaningful and sustainable.
🗣️The key factor isn't a specific technique or duration per session.
📌Research suggests it's the consistency over time that matters most. Daily practice over weeks, months, or years appears to be what spiritual dose provided to brain.
Whether you pray, meditate, or engage in other reflective practices, you may be doing more for your brain than you realize. ✨
📍Sources: Ho et al., Neural correlates meta-analysis (2025)
Medical Nutrition Therapy - MNT by Dt Mehwish Bajwa