Investigating the effect of age and gender of users on improving spirituality by using EEG

Cogn Neurodyn. 2021 Aug;15(4):637-647. doi: 10.1007/s11571-020-09654-x. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Abstract

The current study aims to examine the effect of age and gender of users on spirituality by using an experiment. Literature believes that age and gender have a huge effect on increased or decreased spirituality. The current study aims to examine these theories by a scientific and rational method and using cognitive neuroscience (recording electroencephalograph). In order to do this, an electroencephalograph was recorded for 45 users. Findings show that there is a significant relationship between age and gender of users and spirituality (F = 4.1, p < 0.05) (F = 3.8, p < 0.05). Results showed that users at older ages reached spirituality sooner. Thus, it can be said in regard to the relationship between age and formation/improvement of spirituality that users at older ages reach spirituality sooner than users at younger ages. Results of data analysis showed that alpha and theta brain signals increased in male students at the 30-35 age range; while this increase was slower at the 20-29 age range.

Keywords: Age and gender; Cognitive neuroscience; EEG; Mosques; Neuroscience of religion; Spirituality.