Editing Speaking in tongues (section)

==Medical research==
In most cases tongues speakers have no underlying neuropsychiatric disorder precipitating the manifestations, although it rarely occurs in neurogenic conditions.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mendez|first=Mario F.|date=2018-01-01|title=Non-Neurogenic Language Disorders: A Preliminary Classification|journal=Psychosomatics|volume=59|issue=1|pages=28–35|doi=10.1016/j.psym.2017.08.006|issn=0033-3182|pmc=5748000|pmid=28911819}}</ref> Speakers report finding personal meaning in the utterances, although they are unintelligible and have no linguistic structure. The link to psychopathology has been disproven - tongues speakers are not over-represented in those with depression or psychosis, nor other disorders and one study found tongues speaking negatively associated with neuroticism - emotional stability was greater amongst the speakers.<ref name=":1" />{{rp|69}} Nevertheless the language spoken by the speakers is devoid of semantic meaning, although the utterances appear to be derived from the language of the speaker.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wells |first1=Rulon |title=William J. Samarin. Tongues of Men and Angels. The Religious Language of Pentecostalism. (New York, Macmillan, and London, Collier-Macmillan Ltd, 1972.) $7.95. |journal=Religious Studies |date=December 1973 |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=503–506 |doi=10.1017/S0034412500007307 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/religious-studies/article/william-j-samarin-tongues-of-men-and-angels-the-religious-language-of-pentecostalism-new-york-macmillan-and-london-colliermacmillan-ltd-1972-795/F867AAB256A2B00DD87B2A9041FC6E93 |language=en |issn=1469-901X}}</ref>{{rp|505}} Studies have thus suggested this could be learned behaviour by the speakers.<ref> {{cite journal |last1=Spanos |first1=Nicholas P. |last2=Cross |first2=Wendy P. |last3=Lepage |first3=Mark |last4=Coristine |first4=Marjorie |title=Glossolalia as learned behavior: An experimental demonstration. |journal=Journal of Abnormal Psychology |date=1986 |volume=95 |issue=1 |pages=21–23 |doi=10.1037/0021-843X.95.1.21|pmid=3700843 }}</ref>

[[Neuroimaging]] of brain activity during glossolalia does not show activity in the language areas of the brain.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Newberg|first1=Andrew B.|last2=Wintering|first2=Nancy A.|last3=Morgan|first3=Donna|last4=Waldman|first4=Mark R.|date=2006-11-22|title=The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during glossolalia: A preliminary SPECT study|journal=Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging|volume=148|issue=1|pages=67–71|doi=10.1016/j.pscychresns.2006.07.001|pmid=17046214|s2cid=17079826|issn=0925-4927}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2006/october/language-center-of-the-brain-i|title=Language Center of the Brain Is Not Under the Control of Subjects Who "Speak in Tongues" – PR News|website=www.pennmedicine.org|access-date=January 15, 2019}}</ref> In other words, it may be characterized by a specific brain activity.<ref name="Am J Speech Lang Patho_24_4_2015">{{cite journal|first1=Ray D.|last1= Kent|title=Nonspeech Oral Movements and Oral Motor Disorders: A Narrative Review|journal=Am J Speech Lang Pathol|date=November 1, 2015|volume= 24|issue=4|pages=763–789|pmc=4698470|pmid= 26126128|doi=10.1044/2015_AJSLP-14-0179|issn=1058-0360|oclc=8146899752}} (at Appendix A)</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Cave |first1=David Sachs |last2=Norris|first2= Rebecca|url=https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/45980|title=Religion and the Body. Modern Science and the Construction of Religious Meaning|doi=10.1163/9789004225343|publisher=Brill|year=2012|hdl=20.500.12657/45980 |isbn=9789004225343 |access-date=April 16, 2021|oclc= 1238010307}}</ref>

A 1973 experimental study highlighted the existence of two basic types of glossolalia: a static form which tends to a somewhat [[Repetition compulsion|coaction to repetitiveness]] and a more dynamic one which tends to [[Free association (psychology)|free association]] of speech-like elements.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=H A Osser |author2=P F Ostwald |author3=B Macwhinney |author4= R L Casey |title=Glossolalic speech from a psycholinguistic perspective |journal=J Psycholinguist Res |date=March 1, 1973 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=9–19 |doi=10.1007/BF01067109 |pmid=24197793 |s2cid=36005466 |issn=0090-6905
|oclc=4664154487}}</ref><ref name="Am J Speech Lang Patho_24_4_2015" />

A study done by the ''American Journal of Human Biology'' found that speaking in tongues is associated with both a reduction in circulatory cortisol, and enhancements in alpha-amylase enzyme activity{{snd}}two common biomarkers of stress reduction that can be measured in saliva.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lynn|first1=Christopher Dana|last2=Paris|first2=Jason|last3=Frye |first3=Cheryl Anne|last4=Schell|first4=Lawrence M.|date=2010|title=Salivary Alpha-Amylase and Cortisol Among Pentecostals on a Worship and Nonworship Day|journal=American Journal of Human Biology|volume=22|issue=6|pages=819–822|doi=10.1002/ajhb.21088|issn=1042-0533|pmc=3609410|pmid=20878966}}</ref> Several sociological studies report various social benefits of engaging in Pentecostal glossolalia,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Culture and personality aspects of the Pentecostal holiness religion|last=Wood|first=William W.|date=1965|publisher=Mouton (IS) |oclc=797731718}}{{page needed|date=June 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Hine|first=Virginia H.|date=1969|title=Pentecostal Glossolalia toward a Functional Interpretation|journal=Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion|volume=8|issue=2|pages=211–226|doi=10.2307/1384335|issn=0021-8294|jstor=1384335}}</ref> such as an increase in self-confidence.<ref name=":0" />

As of April 2021, further studies are needed to corroborate the 1980s view of glossolaly with more sensitive measures of outcome, by using the more recent techniques of neuroimaging.<ref name="Am J Speech Lang Patho_24_4_2015" /> {{better source needed|date=January 2022}}