Neural Markers of Religious Conviction.
A study examined the neural markers of religious conviction. Electroencephalographic neural reactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a cortical system that is implicated in the experience of anxiety and is vital for self-regulation, was recorded as participants performed a Stroop task. F...
| Published in: | Psychological Science. Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 385 - 393 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
HWW Temp
March 2009
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| Summary: | A study examined the neural markers of religious conviction. Electroencephalographic neural reactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a cortical system that is implicated in the experience of anxiety and is vital for self-regulation, was recorded as participants performed a Stroop task. Findings demonstrated that stronger religious zeal and greater belief in God were linked to reduced reactivity of the ACC in response to error and with commission of fewer errors. These correlations were found to remain strong even after personality and cognitive ability were controlled. Findings suggested that religious conviction offers a framework for understanding and acting within one's environment, serving as a buffer against anxiety and lessening the experience of error. |
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