Psychologists have always been amazed at why some people believe in a higher being, while others easily agree that people are alone in the universe. Now the researchers say they have discovered an area of the brain that, if damaged, increases the likelihood that a person will adhere to fundamental religious beliefs.
Specifically, what they found was that changes that occur as a result of damage done to this area reduce cognitive flexibility, that is, the ability to question one's own beliefs when new evidence emerges.
New research
This study builds on previous work that found the neurological rationale for religion, in particular the prefrontal cortex.
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The study used this data, which was originally applied to study the trauma of Vietnam veterans. Using this registry, a team of scientists compared soldiers who received penetrating brain trauma to those who did not. The scientists looked at 119 combat veterans with brain damage, namely the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
They found that among the veterans who participated in the study, those who sustained damage to this part of the brain, which was previously associated with planning and problem solving abilities, were less open to new ideas. This may explain why they were more likely to be convinced of their religious beliefs.
Damage to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
As part of the study, researchers asked participants to take a cognitive flexibility test and then tested their level of religious fundamentalism. He then underwent computed tomography to determine the size and location of the brain lesions. It turned out that those who injured their dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is located in the front of the brain, were more likely to adhere to fundamental beliefs and showed less cognitive flexibility.
These data indicate that cognitive flexibility and openness are necessary for flexible and adaptive religious adherence, and the diversity of religious thought is directly dependent on the functionality of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
What does this lead to?
Previous experiments have shown that this area of the brain is involved in working memory, which allows you to keep in mind a large number of different pieces of new information that you have recently received. It is also key in matters of cognitive flexibility. The researchers believe this latest study shows that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex can be very important in openness to new ideas that can challenge deeply rooted beliefs and beliefs.
This does not mean that the formation of a religious belief is due to brain damage, or that this brain damage leads to religious fundamentalism. The researchers only claim that damage to a specific area of the brain makes it harder for a person to question deeply rooted beliefs when new evidence emerges.
Marina Ilyushenko