The Neural Basis of Religious Cognition. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grafman, Jordan; Cristofori, Irene; Zhong, Wanting; Bulbulia, Joseph
• Is Part Of: Current directions in psychological science. Volume 29:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 126
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: religious cognition -- religious beliefs -- cognitive neuroscience -- neuroimaging -- lesion mapping; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1177/0963721419898183
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-7214

Abstract

Religion's neural underpinnings have long been a topic of speculation and debate, but an emerging neuroscience of religion is beginning to clarify which regions of the brain integrate moral, ritual, and supernatural religious beliefs with functionally adaptive responses. Here, we review evidence indicating that religious cognition involves a complex interplay among the brain regions underpinning cognitive control, social reasoning, social motivations, and ideological beliefs.