When we think about prayer, we often think of it as a religious practice. Or maybe we envision monks silently bowing their heads somewhere far, far away from us.
The truth is, prayer isn’t intended for a select few — and according to the latest advances in the field of neuroscience, the more you embrace it, the more your overall well-being will benefit.
“Prayer can transform your brain in dramatic ways, improving both mental and physical health,” Angela Montano, an international prayer intuitive and advocate and a bestselling DailyOM course creator, tells us. “Studies have shown that long-term practitioners of prayer and meditation may exhibit alterations in brain structure, including increased gray matter density in regions associated with empathy, compassion, and emotional regulation.”
Interested in learning more? Check out The Neuroscience Behind Praying.
Meet Your Teacher: Angela Montano
At the age of four, prayer first made its presence known in Montano’s life. During a tap dancing recital, which culminated with the group kneeling with their hands in a prayer position, Montano decided to stay there, praying. For the past three decades, she has been refining how she interacts with prayer and inspiring a movement to rethink prayer as a language of love in the process. As a prayer intuitive and advocate, Montano has facilitated more than 25,000 individual prayer sessions and reached thousands through her classes, speaking engagements, interviews, and workshops.
A licensed spiritual practitioner, Montano is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and host of the globally recognized podcast The Angela Montano Hour: Prayer on the Air. “I never imagined I would be praying for people professionally, but here I am,” she says. “I have learned so much about prayer in these past years of praying for clients of all walks of life. It is an utter thrill.”
How Does Prayer Affect Your Brain?
For starters, it’s important to note that Montano defines prayer as simply reaching beyond. “We are reaching beyond our stressful thinking and the emotions associated with fear to a space of possibility,” she explains. “This actually feels good, and brings the most wonderful relief.”
It’s no wonder that neuroscientists, such as Dr. Andrew Newberg, a pioneer in the field of neurotheology, have linked praying with a plethora of positive effects. “Prayer has been found to have fascinating effects on the brain, influencing various neural processes and regions,” Montano says. “The regions of the brain that light up in a person who knows the state of consciousness I refer to as ‘prayerfulness’ are associated with structural and functional changes in the brain, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.”
In addition to the aforementioned increase in gray matter produced by prayer, Montano says that our neurotransmitter levels and activity in the brain benefit, too. “Studies have found that prayer practices can modulate the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which are involved in mood regulation, bonding, and feelings of well-being.”
Key Neuroscience Findings on How Prayer Activates the Brain
- There’s increased activity in the frontal lobes. “Prayer can activate the frontal lobes, which are associated with focused attention, problem-solving, and planning,” Montano says. “This area is heavily involved in executive functions and goal-directed behavior.”
- There’s reduced activity in the parietal lobes. “The parietal lobes, which help create a sense of self and spatial orientation, show decreased activity during deep prayer,” she explains. “This reduction contributes to feelings of oneness and loss of the sense of self, which are often reported during spiritual experiences.”
- Enhanced dopamine release can occur. “Dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to feelings of reward and pleasure, can be released during prayer, leading to feelings of happiness and well-being,” Montano notes.
- Brain wave patterns are altered. “Prayer can change brain wave patterns, increasing alpha waves, which are associated with relaxation, and theta waves, those linked to creativity and intuition,” says Montano.
- Emotional regulation is enhanced. The limbic system, which is involved in emotional regulation, is greatly affected, too. “Prayer can reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of peace and emotional stability,” she says.
Why Is Prayer Important for Mental and Emotional Health?
To Montano, who has witnessed thousands of others transform from prayer, it’s clear that praying benefits our emotional and mental well-being.
“This is what I see on a daily basis with my students and clients. When you have someone praying for you, that has a real connection in prayer, it is like getting an infusion of love right at the center of whatever condition, circumstance, or relationship in which you are struggling,” she shares. “A shift in perception is a miracle — and prayer and miracles are linked, because when you really let go into prayer, there is a support in your life that is really beyond words.”
She adds that, at the most basic level, prayer moves us out of fear-based thinking. “That has a tremendous overall benefit to our life experience, no matter what has happened, is happening, or will happen,” Montano says.
7 Ways Prayer Can Profoundly Benefit Your Overall Well-Being
According to Montano, prayer offers numerous psychological and physiological benefits. Read on for some of the most notable ways in which it can bolster your well-being.
1. It helps to reduce stress in your life.
A study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that engaging in repetitive prayer or mantras can elicit the relaxation response, a state of rest that changes one’s physical and emotional response to stress.
“Engaging in prayer can activate the relaxation response, which reduces the production of stress hormones like cortisol,” Montano explains. “This helps lower blood pressure and heart rate, and promotes a sense of calm and peace.”
2. It enhances emotional health and resilience.
“Prayer provides a means to process emotions, express gratitude, and seek forgiveness, which can lead to improved emotional regulation,” Montano says. “It can help individuals cope with difficult emotions, fostering resilience and emotional stability.”
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, including Dr. Newberg, have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study Tibetan Buddhists and Franciscan nuns during prayer and meditation, and they found significant changes in brain regions associated with attention, emotion, and self-awareness.
3. It promotes a sense of connection and bolsters social support.
As Montano has seen firsthand, prayer can create a sense of connection to a higher power or a larger community, thereby reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. “This sense of belonging can enhance social support and improve overall mental health,” she explains, drawing on her anecdotal experiences of praying for herself and others.
4. It improves cognitive function and brain health.
Regular prayer or meditation can enhance cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and problem-solving skills, Montano shares. “The focused attention required during prayer can strengthen the brain’s executive functions.”
5. It increases positive feelings.
Prayer often involves expressions of gratitude and hope, which can boost positive emotions and overall life satisfaction, Montano says. “This practice can lead to increased happiness and a more optimistic outlook on life,” she explains.
One study even found that prayer can help foster forgiveness, allowing people to move on from challenging situations. And in another study, researchers came to a similar conclusion, adding that those who participated in partner-focused prayer showed more positive behavior and cooperation with their partners, compared to non-prayers.
6. It encourages mindfulness and decreases anxiety.
“Prayer can serve as a form of mindfulness, helping individuals stay present and focused,” Montano says. “This can improve mental clarity and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.” For example, when you’re concentrating on a prayer, it brings you out of past or future tension and into the moment.
7. It supports physical health and vitality.
“Regular prayer has been linked to better physical health outcomes, such as improved immune function and reduced risk of chronic diseases,” Montano says. “The stress-reducing benefits of prayer can contribute to overall physical well-being.
For example, one study linked prayer to a reduction in cravings in recovering alcoholics, as measured by fMRI.
The Bottom Line
The simple act of praying, whether it’s on your own terms and in your own way or via a religion, can activate your brain in productive ways, producing tangible benefits to your mental, emotional, and even physical health.
And while you may not need much to begin, Montano recommends approaching prayer from a place of humility, honesty, vulnerability, and possibility to reap every bit of its brain-serving benefits. One prayer at a time, you can positively impact the health and well-being of your mind, and your emotional and physical experience.
