Specific Brain Lesions Linked to Increased Religious Fundamentalism, Study Finds

The research, published in the journal Neuropsychologia, suggests that lesions in specific regions of the brain may make individuals more likely to hold rigid and dogmatic religious beliefs.¹

As the world grapples with the impact of religious extremism, these findings shed new light on the complex relationship between the brain and belief, offering intriguing insights into the neurological underpinnings of fundamentalist ideologies. 

Could this help us better understand the roots of inflexible belief systems and potentially address their societal challenges?

Fundamentalism Network Identified in the Brain

Researchers analyzed brain lesions in two large groups of patients from independent laboratories and discovered a network of brain regions associated with religious fundamentalism. 

This network, primarily located in the right hemisphere, includes the orbitofrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and inferior parietal lobe.

Remarkably, the fundamentalism network was highly consistent across both patient groups, with a strong correlation of 0.82 between the two datasets. 

This finding suggests that the identified brain regions play a crucial role in shaping an individual’s propensity for rigid religious beliefs, regardless of the specific cause of the brain damage.

Cognitive Flexibility & Openness Key to Diverse Religious Thought

The study found that damage to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) was significantly associated with increased religious fundamentalism.

This effect was mediated by decreased cognitive flexibility and openness, two essential traits for accommodating diverse religious perspectives.

These findings highlight the importance of cognitive flexibility and openness in fostering a more inclusive and adaptable approach to religious belief. 

When these traits are impaired due to brain damage or other factors, individuals may be more likely to embrace rigid and fundamentalist ideologies that reject alternative viewpoints.

Similarities to Confabulation & Criminal Behavior

Intriguingly, the researchers found that lesions associated with religious fundamentalism showed similar connectivity patterns to those linked with confabulation and criminal behavior. (ref)

On the other hand, lesions associated with decreased fundamentalism exhibited similarities to those related to post-stroke pain.

While these findings do not imply a direct causal relationship between fundamentalism and these other conditions, they suggest that shared neural mechanisms may be underlying certain cognitive and behavioral patterns. 

Further research is needed to explore the potential connections between these seemingly disparate phenomena.

Implications & Future Directions

The study’s authors emphasize that their findings do not suggest that all religious individuals have brain damage or that religious fundamentalism is a mental illness. Instead, they highlight the complex interplay between neurological factors and the formation of religious beliefs.

As research continues to learn the intricate relationship between the brain and belief systems, it is crucial to approach these findings with nuance and sensitivity. 

Understanding the neurological basis of religious fundamentalism may enable us to promote open-mindedness, empathy, and dialogue across diverse belief systems.

• The study analyzed brain lesions in two large patient groups from independent laboratories.
• Damage to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was associated with increased religious fundamentalism, mediated by decreased cognitive flexibility and openness.
• Lesions linked to fundamentalism showed similarities to those associated with confabulation and criminal behavior.

Source:

1. National Library of Medicine