The temporal lobe
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe what the temporal lobe is and why some scientists link this to religious experiences.
Key learning points
- The human brain functions through sending and receiving signals.
- The temporal lobe is one area of the brain that processes speech, memories and emotions.
- Temporal lobe epilepsy can cause feelings simliar to religious experiences.
- Ramachandran is a scholar who has linked the temporal lobe to religious experiences.
Keywords
Epilepsy - a medical condition where a person has repeated fits or episodes caused by unusual brain activity
Neuroscience - the study of how the brain and nervous system work; a neuroscientist is a person who studies this
Religious experience - a personal feeling or moment when someone believes they connect with a higher power or God
Senses - the way that human or animal bodies gather information about the world around them
Temporal lobe - a part of the brain that helps with hearing, memory and understanding language
Common misconception
Scientific explanations for religious experiences mean there is no God or higher power involved.
Some may argue that scientific explanations can help us understand how a God or higher power is causing religious experiences.
Teacher tip
This lesson uses the case study of "John", a patient of Ramachandran. You might want to search for video clips elsewhere online to see Ramachandran speaking about his experiences and conditions.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How are messages from the body relayed to the brain?
Q2.What is the name of the organ in the human head which controls all body functions of the person?
Q3.In Judaism how does God appear and speak to Moses first?
Q4.In Christianity, how does Mary, mother of Jesus, learn of her special role?
Q5.Which term means a being that is all powerful and there is nothing this being can't do?
Q6.What term means the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge and values?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where would a person feel the pain of a stubbed toe?
Q2.Which term means the study of how the brain works in relation to the body?
Q3.Which of these is the temporal lobe connected to?
Q4.Which of these could be seen as a religious experience?
Q5.Which medical condition has been linked to 'religious' experiences?
Q6.What is the name of the neuroscientist who studied the link between temporal lobe epilepsy and religious experiences?
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: The temporal lobe, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: The temporal lobe, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 religious education lessons from the Psychology: is our brain designed to believe? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.