Cognitive and neural foundations of religious belief.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 19273839.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1073/pnas.0811717106 and PMC identifier 2660736.
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Abstract
We propose an integrative cognitive neuroscience framework for understanding the cognitive and neural foundations of religious belief. Our analysis reveals 3 psychological dimensions of religious belief (God's perceived level of involvement, God's perceived emotion, and doctrinal/experiential religious knowledge), which functional MRI localizes within networks processing Theory of Mind regarding intent and emotion, abstract semantics, and imagery. Our results are unique in demonstrating that specific components of religious belief are mediated by well-known brain networks, and support contemporary psychological theories that ground religious belief within evolutionary adaptive cognitive functions.
Medical subject headings
- Cognition
- Nervous System Physiological Phenomena
- Religion