Can a brain injury lead someone to commit a #crime? Brain imaging is increasingly introduced as evidence in criminal trials but it remains unclear which structural injuries play a causal role in criminal behavior. Michael Fox Center For Brain Circuit Therapeutics Brigham and Women's Neurology nature.com/articles/s4138…

MRI scans are becoming common in the courtroom and show abnormalities in defendants brains. But can any of these abnormalities actually cause #criminal behavior. New paper from Isaiah Kletenik Center For Brain Circuit Therapeutics Mass General Brigham Research in says YES. Thread below:

I helped with music ministry on the Holy Isle of Iona this week. Here's a traditional Gaelic blessing of deep peace. I hope deep peace finds you.

Brain Adapts to Neuron Loss Through Rapid Rewiring Researchers have discovered that the brain can swiftly compensate for the loss of neurons by reorganizing its internal networks. In a study of the auditory cortex, scientists found that when specific neurons were deliberately

“The sense of the sacred is something that has really strong grounding in the human brain,” says Michael Ferguson, Ph.D: archive.ph/TpZNY Great reporting on neurospirituality in Popular Mechanics! I stand by this parting shot: “I really think that we’re just barely

My album "The Luminous Brain" comes out this Friday on the summer solstice. 12 tracks which will serve as the musical outline for the 12-chapter book by the same name. Album pre-save now available through Spotify. Let there be light! distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mi…

Presenting my new album, "The Luminous Brain." Musical styles spanning folk, pop, and new age. Heavily influenced by the intersection of science and spirituality. Let there be beauty and light! open.spotify.com/album/3dHn9VDi…

Family reunion time! I grew up Mormon and have a complicated relationship with the religion of my youth. But one of the things I strongly value from Mormonism is the ethos of family history and unity. (It is one of the reasons why there is so much pain in Mormonism when family

Was Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism) a mystic? I argue yes: Joseph Smith was as bona fide a mystic as there is. In fact, IMO he is THE American mystic. Now, is mysticism hogwash? This is a different question. 😆 Stay tuned for more on that debate. wayfaremagazine.org/p/american-mys…

I'm so grateful to the Ukrainian yogis letting me learn from their strength and spiritual practice amid war. More soon from me on this new line of work. Tax-deductible gifts to support this research may be given here: bwhgiving.org/ferguson 🕊️🙏

10 years ago today, the Ferguson v. JONAH case established legal precedent that conversion therapy is fraud. I was honored to be the named plaintiff in this first-of-its-kind lawsuit. The jury ruling was unanimous. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_…

It was sacred to join yogis living in war-torn Ukraine for their spiritual practice today. I am humbled that they want me to study the impacts of spirituality in the context of war. Early donors are welcome to support this research by giving here: bwhgiving.org/ferguson 🙏🕊️

Here's hoping this work may lead to relief for people who suffer chronic pain.

Viewpoint describes Noah S Philip MD’s experiences teaching transcranial magnetic stimulation in Ukraine during the war. ja.ma/4kOvg1G Noah S Philip MD

Morning coffee with the hummingbirds.

If the lifespan extending effects of psilocybin in cells and mice replicate, there’s something very meaningful happening biologically that deserves attention nature.com/articles/s4151…

Very cool paper. “Longer wavelengths in sunlight pass through the human body and have a systemic impact which improves vision” I have known the senior author Glen Jeffery since the mid 90s and he’s always done very interesting work. Another beauty here. nature.com/articles/s4159…

Sporran--the original fannypack. #CelticSoul 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😄✌️

I’m fortunate to be learning Kundalini Yoga from Yuliya, a yogi in Ukraine. She reports that her practice contributes to resilience living in a war zone. Stay tuned to learn about the "Spirituality During War" research initiative the Neurospirituality Lab is preparing to launch.

Evelyn Underhill's definition of mysticism is primo: the art of union with Reality. Here's my hot list of reads for people awakening to the fact that mysticism and reason are compatible.