The British Medical Journal, one of the top journals in medicine, has published a unique article. Researchers used functional MRI (fMRI) scans of the brain to see if they could locate where people's “Christmas Spirits” resided. A regular MRI shows anatomical structures, tumors, abscesses, cysts, etc. An fMRI shows which areas of the brain are active as the patient is exposed to various auditory or visual stimuli (among others). There were a few areas of the brain that lit up when the patients were shown Christmas scenes. These same areas didn’t light up when they were shown pictures unrelated to Christmas. The control group (Grinches) who never celebrated Christmas didn't show the same activity as the first group who all celebrated Christmas.
The authors promise that they didn't "dope" the Christmas celebrating group with a pretest Christmas party where there were treats like eggnog, gingerbread cookies, freshly cut pines, Christmas carols, heavily decorated, holly, gifts a sleigh with reindeer and presents and there was no fat experimenter dressed in a red and white suit shouting “HO HO HO.” Neither were the Grinches (those who never celebrated Christmas) shown horrible and depressing scenes or poverty, war, disasters or the 27 clown car candidates, Palin, Bachmann, Gohmert and similar Sharia War on Christmas skirmishers. No scenes of Christmas commercializers and millions of shoppers fighting and trampling over each other to get that one special toy that little Johnny will tire of 15 minutes after it’s unwrapped (and that's only if you remembered to buy the batteries and the extra addon components.
This actually is a real study. There are specific areas of the brain that light up when those who believe in Christmas get stimulated by Christmas scenes. The authors think that the brain sites that lit up are ones that may be ones that are involved in triggering people to start giving, sharing, helping others. They also feel that the people who do those things get pleasure, a feeling of happiness, connectedness when they do so. More research is needed. The group wants to look at other things that may cause these behaviors and feelings, testing to see if animals have similar responses, etc.
I recommend that you read the study. It’s short, easy to read and amusing. The coauthors Throw in some of their own special wit along with the facts. When I first read tha article, I thought that it had escaped from the ONION. But no, it’s real research, and kind of a hoot to read. Scientists are human and have a sense of humor, too.
The paper is here and it’ s free. www.bmj.com/…
