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Neuropeptide Y and religious commitment in healthy young women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2018

Mathilde T. Tønnesen ,
Alessandro Miani ,
Anders Sune Pedersen ,
Panagiotis Mitkidis ,
Paul J. Zak  and
Michael Winterdahl Open the ORCID record for Michael Winterdahl [Opens in a new window]
Mathilde T. Tønnesen
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Alessandro Miani
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Anders Sune Pedersen
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Panagiotis Mitkidis
Affiliation:
Department of Management, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Center for Advanced Hindsight, Duke University, NC, USA
Paul J. Zak
Affiliation:
Center for Neuroeconomics Studies, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA
Michael Winterdahl*
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
*
Author for correspondence: Michael Winterdahl, Associate Professor in Neuroimaging, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University, Nørrebrogade 44, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Tel: +45 7846 3029; E-mail: michael.winterdahl@clin.au.dk
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Abstract

Objective

The present study explores the relationship between neuroactive hormones and religious commitment. We hypothesised that religious commitment is mediated by neuropeptide Y and oxytocin. These neurohormones have a well-established role in general well-being, anxiety regulation, stress-resilience, social affiliation and spirituality.

Methods

Sixty healthy women (median age 21) participated in the study and completed the Religious Commitment Inventory and other psychometric surveys. Blood was sampled from each participant and serum levels of neuropeptide Y were measured using radioimmunoassay. Oxytocin, stress and sex hormones were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlations were tested using non-parametric statistical methods.

Results

We found a positive correlation between serum neuropeptide Y levels and religious commitment, but not between oxytocin and religious commitment.

Conclusions

The present study provides preliminary evidence that neuropeptide Y is a biological correlate of religious commitment.

Keywords

neuropeptide Yoxytocinreligion
Type
Original Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , April 2019 , pp. 106 - 112
Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2018 

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Footnotes

Part of this work was presented at Neuroscience Day, Aarhus University, as an oral presentation, May 2017 and poster, May 2018.

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