Brain and faith. Neural correlates of religious beliefs
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Published:
Dec 21, 2016
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Abstract
Are there brain differences between believers and nonbelievers? In order to investigate the effect of religious beliefs on cognitive control, Michael Inzlicht and his collaborators measured the neural correlates of performance monitoring and affective responses to errors, specifically, the error-related negativity (ERN). ERN is a neurophysiological marker occurring within 100 ms of error commission, and generated in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The researchers observed that religious conviction is marked by reduced reactivity in the ACC, a cortical system that is involved in the experience of anxiety and is important for self-regulation. Thus, they claimed that these results offer a mechanism for the finding that religion is linked to positive mental health and low rates of mortality.
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How to Cite
Senderecka, M. (2016). Brain and faith. Neural correlates of religious beliefs. Philosophical Problems in Science (Zagadnienia Filozoficzne W Nauce), (61), 165–188. Retrieved from https://zfn.edu.pl/index.php/zfn/article/view/380
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Proceedings of the PAU Commission on the Philosophy of Science
References
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Freud, S., 1998. Przyszłość pewnego złudzenia. W: S. Freud, Pisma społeczne. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo KR.
Gehring, W.J., Goss, B., Coles, M.G.H., Meyer, D.E., Donchin, E., 1993. A neural system for error detection and compensation. Psychological Science, 4, s. 385–390.
Gehring, W.J., Himle, J., Nisenson, L.G., 2000. Action-monitoring dysfunction in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychological Science, 11, s. 1–6.
Good, M., Inzlicht, M., Larson, M.J., 2014. God will forgive: Reflecting on God’s love decreases neurophysiological response to errors. Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, 10, s. 357–363.
Hajcak, G., McDonald, N., Simons, R.F., 2003. Anxiety and error related brain activity. Biological Psychology, 64, s. 77–90.
Herrmann, M.J., Rommler, J., Ehlis, A.C., Heidrich, A., Fallgatter, A.J., 2004. Source localization (LORETA) of the error-related-negativity (ERN/Ne) and positivity (Pe). Cognitive Brain Research, 20, s. 294– 299.
Hill, P.C., Maltby, L.E., 2009. Measuring religiousness and spirituality: Issues, existing measures, and the implications for education and wellbeing. W: M. de Souza, L. J. Francis, J. O’Higgins-Norman, D.G. Scott, (red.), International handbook of education for spirituality, care, and wellbeing. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer, s. 33–50.
Inzlicht, M., McGregor, I., Hirsh, J.B., Nash, K., 2009. Neural markers of religious conviction. Psychological Science, 20, s. 385–392.
Inzlicht, M., Tullett, A.M., 2010. Reflecting on God: Religious primes can reduce neurophysiological response to errors. Psychological Science, 21, s. 1184–1190.
Johannes, S., Wieringa, B.M., Nager, W., Rada, D., Dengler, R., Emrich, H.M., Münte, T.F., Dietrich, D.E., 2001. Discrepant target detection and action monitoring in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 108, s. 101–110.
Kutas, M., Hillyard, S.A., 1980. Reading senseless sentences: Brain potentials reflect semantic incongruity. Science, 207, s. 203–205.
Luck, S.J., 2005. An introduction to the event-related potential technique, Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Luu, P., Collins, P., Tucker, D.M., 2000. Mood, personality, and selfmonitoring: Negative affect and emotionality in relation to frontal lobe mechanisms of error monitoring. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 129, s. 43–60.
Marks, K., 1960. Przyczynek do krytyki heglowskiej filozofii prawa. W: K. Marks, F. Engels, Dzieła I. Warszawa: Książka i Wiedza.
McGregor, I., Haji, R., Nash, K.A., Teper, R., 2008. Religious zeal and the uncertain self. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 30, s. 183–188.
Międzynarodowe Stowarzyszenie Gallupa, 2012. Global index of religiosity and atheism.
Powell, L.H., Shahabi, L., Thoresen, C.E., 2003. Religion and spirituality: Linkages to physical health. American Psychologist, 58, s. 36–52.
Seybold, K.S., Hill, P.C., 2001. The role of religion and spirituality in mental and physical health. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 10, s. 21–24.
Stroop, J.R., 1935. Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, s. 643–662.
Teper, R., Inzlicht, M., 2013. Meditation, mindfulness and executive control: The importance of emotional acceptance and brain-based performance monitoring. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 8, s. 85–92.
van Berkum, J.J.A., Holleman, B., Nieuwland, M., Otten, M., Murre, J., 2009. Right or wrong? The brain’s fast response to morally objectionable statements. Psychological Science, 20, s. 1092–1099.