The participants included 10 people who celebrate Christmas and 10 participants who don’t.
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When the researchers showed pictures to two groups of people, the fMRI showed different areas of the brain associated with spirituality, self transcendence and recognition of facial emotion lighting up in response in the people who had positive associations with Christmas traditions, compared to a calmer response in a group that didn’t celebrate Christmas. They will study to see if other holiday traditions have the same impact on the brain.
The researchers said that the Christmas spirit could not be scientifically explained in its entirety. Christmas Spirit is an actual medical thing, you guys. The participants were asked to fill some questionnaires that had questions about Christmas related feelings.
After taking a survey on their experiences with and affinity for Christmas traditions, researchers divided participants into two groups – 10 participants in the Christmas group and 10 participants in the non-Christmas group.
For, “although merry and intriguing, these findings should be interpreted with caution”, write the researchers, adding (in an accompanying press release) that “something as magical and complex as the Christmas spirit can not be fully explained by, or limited to, the mapped brain activity alone”. Then, by using a highly-advanced MRI scanner, the Danish researcher were able to map out the areas of the brain which responded to those images. Eighty four were shown in total, with six consecutive ones having a festive theme and the next six not. Researchers believe that the findings will help in more thorughly understanding the brain’s role in cultural festivities.
According to the scientists, the latter people are in good company as there are millions of them afflicted with the “bah humbug” syndrome.
Haddock said in a phone interview Thursday that the results they found were very real, but that they’re also poking a little fun at scientific research. We are now preparing a patent application on a Santa’s hat that you can buy for family members with symptoms. “Subgroups subjected to receipt of tacky jumpers as their Christmas present might also have different responses in brain activity from those of subgroups who tend to receive more attractive gifts”. “When they start grumbling at Christmas dinner, with the touch of a button you can give them electric stimulation right in the Christmas spirit centres”. “Therefore we, in the best interest of the readers of course, decided not to ruin the good Christmas cheer for everyone by letting this influence our interpretation of the study”.
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The Danish study authors said their work might bring relief to those suffering from “bah humbug” syndrome, or a deficiency of the holiday spirit. Remember: they might not hate Christmas, they just don’t care about it.
