This week, my favorite podcast, The Mel Robbins Podcast featured Dr. Lisa Miller; a researcher I've been following since I began my path of intersecting holistic health and the importance of spirituality. In short, her premise is that spirituality is for everyone and their conversation reminded me why talking about the science behind spirituality is something we must continue to do at Whitmark. Our products are intentional: they rely on the science of intentional ingredients and alignment and are for everyone. I wholeheartedly believe that spirituality is for everyone as well.
In recent years, the intersection of spirituality and neuroscience has captured the attention of researchers, clinicians, and individuals seeking holistic mental health solutions. One of the most prominent voices in this field is Dr. Lisa Miller, a clinical psychologist and professor at Columbia University, whose pioneering work explores the neurological and psychological impacts of spirituality on the human brain. Her research offers compelling evidence that spirituality is not just a belief system—but a biological and psychological asset with profound benefits for mental health and cognitive function.
Spirituality and the Brain: A Biological Imperative
In her influential book The Awakened Brain (2021), Dr. Lisa Miller presents decades of research suggesting that humans are biologically wired for spirituality. Through brain imaging studies and longitudinal research, she and her colleagues have identified a specific pattern of brain activity associated with spiritual experiences—what she terms the “awakened brain.”
Three areas of focus to take away:
- The default mode network (DMN): This part of the brain is active during introspection, self-referential thought, and mind-wandering. Spiritual reflection and meditation enhance the connectivity and coherence of this network.
- The parietal cortex: Often involved in the perception of self vs. others, it becomes less active during deep spiritual states, potentially explaining feelings of unity or oneness.
- The prefrontal cortex: Associated with focus, decision-making, and self-control, this region appears to become more efficient with spiritual practices such as meditation.
These neural patterns reinforce the idea that spirituality is a universal, adaptive function of the human brain by nature and biology.
Protection Against Depression and Mental Illness
One of Dr. Miller’s most important findings is the strong protective effect of spirituality against depression, particularly in adolescents and young adults. Her longitudinal studies reveal that individuals who report a strong personal spirituality have up to an 80% decreased risk of experiencing major depression over their lifetime.
Brain scans from her research also show that spiritual individuals exhibit a thicker cortex in regions associated with emotional regulation and stress resilience, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. This structural difference may explain why spirituality buffers individuals against mood disorders and improves overall psychological resilience.
Transgenerational Benefits of Spirituality
Dr. Miller’s research goes beyond individual outcomes and touches on intergenerational transmission. Children raised in spiritually supportive households—whether through religious traditions, moral frameworks, or mindful parenting—show greater psychological well-being, empathy, and stress tolerance. Importantly, Miller differentiates between dogmatic religiosity and open, relational spirituality, emphasizing that the latter is what provides the most robust mental health benefits.
Spiritual Practices Reshape the Brain
Whether it’s meditation, contemplative thought, gratitude practices, or time in nature, spiritual exercises appear to strengthen brain circuits involved in attention, compassion, and self-regulation. Dr. Miller’s work aligns with broader neuroscience findings showing that consistent spiritual practices can lead to long-term changes in brain structure and function—a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.
Mindfulness meditation reduces activity in the amygdala (the brain’s fear center) and enhances the prefrontal cortex’s role in regulating emotions.
Intention setting and contemplation activate the reward system in the brain, increasing dopamine and serotonin, which contribute to feelings of peace, connection, and joy.
According to Dr. Miller, cultivating spirituality is not just about coping—it’s about thriving. The awakened brain is characterized by qualities such as:
- Increased intuition and insight
- Greater compassion and empathy
- A deeper sense of meaning and connection
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Improved capacity to recover from trauma
In her words, “Spirituality is the natural, innate capacity of the human brain.” Far from being a fringe concept, it is a core aspect of human development and mental health, supported by robust neuroscience.
The growing body of research, spearheaded by scholars like Dr. Lisa Miller, reveals a transformative truth: spirituality is not just a belief system—it is a neural reality. By engaging the brain’s capacity for spiritual awareness, individuals can access greater mental clarity, emotional resilience, and life satisfaction. As science continues to explore the brain’s relationship to the sacred, spirituality is increasingly being recognized as a powerful ally in the pursuit of psychological health and human flourishing.