Journal article
A neural network for religious fundamentalism derived from patients with brain lesions
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.121(36), e2322399121
09/03/2024
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322399121
PMCID: PMC11388357
PMID: 39190343
Abstract
Religious fundamentalism, characterized by rigid adherence to a set of beliefs putatively revealing inerrant truths, is ubiquitous across cultures and has a global impact on society. Understanding the psychological and neurobiological processes producing religious fundamentalism may inform a variety of scientific, sociological, and cultural questions. Research indicates that brain damage can alter religious fundamentalism. However, the precise brain regions involved with these changes remain unknown. Here, we analyzed brain lesions associated with varying levels of religious fundamentalism in two large datasets from independent laboratories. Lesions associated with greater fundamentalism were connected to a specific brain network with nodes in the right orbitofrontal, dorsolateral prefrontal, and inferior parietal lobe. This fundamentalism network was strongly right hemisphere lateralized and highly reproducible across the independent datasets (r = 0.82) with cross-validations between datasets. To explore the relationship of this network to lesions previously studied by our group, we tested for similarities to twenty-one lesion-associated conditions. Lesions associated with confabulation and criminal behavior showed a similar connectivity pattern as lesions associated with greater fundamentalism. Moreover, lesions associated with poststroke pain showed a similar connectivity pattern as lesions associated with lower fundamentalism. These findings are consistent with the current understanding of hemispheric specializations for reasoning and lend insight into previously observed epidemiological associations with fundamentalism, such as cognitive rigidity and outgroup hostility.Religious fundamentalism, characterized by rigid adherence to a set of beliefs putatively revealing inerrant truths, is ubiquitous across cultures and has a global impact on society. Understanding the psychological and neurobiological processes producing religious fundamentalism may inform a variety of scientific, sociological, and cultural questions. Research indicates that brain damage can alter religious fundamentalism. However, the precise brain regions involved with these changes remain unknown. Here, we analyzed brain lesions associated with varying levels of religious fundamentalism in two large datasets from independent laboratories. Lesions associated with greater fundamentalism were connected to a specific brain network with nodes in the right orbitofrontal, dorsolateral prefrontal, and inferior parietal lobe. This fundamentalism network was strongly right hemisphere lateralized and highly reproducible across the independent datasets (r = 0.82) with cross-validations between datasets. To explore the relationship of this network to lesions previously studied by our group, we tested for similarities to twenty-one lesion-associated conditions. Lesions associated with confabulation and criminal behavior showed a similar connectivity pattern as lesions associated with greater fundamentalism. Moreover, lesions associated with poststroke pain showed a similar connectivity pattern as lesions associated with lower fundamentalism. These findings are consistent with the current understanding of hemispheric specializations for reasoning and lend insight into previously observed epidemiological associations with fundamentalism, such as cognitive rigidity and outgroup hostility.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A neural network for religious fundamentalism derived from patients with brain lesions
- Creators
- Michael A Ferguson - Brigham and Women's HospitalErik W Asp - University of IowaIsaiah Kletenik - Brigham and Women's HospitalDaniel Tranel - University of IowaAaron D Boes - University of IowaJenae M NelsonFrederic L W V J Schaper - Brigham and Women's HospitalShan SiddiqiJoseph I Turner - Brigham and Women's HospitalJ Seth AndersonJared A NielsenJames R BatemanJordan GrafmanMichael D Fox - Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.121(36), e2322399121
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.2322399121
- PMID
- 39190343
- PMCID
- PMC11388357
- NLM abbreviation
- Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
- ISSN
- 1091-6490
- eISSN
- 1091-6490
- Publisher
- NATL ACAD SCIENCES; WASHINGTON
- Grant note
- NIH: R01MH113929, R21MH126271, R56AG069086, R21NS123813, R01NS127892, R01MH130666, UM1NS132358 American Epilepsy Society: 846534 Rosenberg/Carlin FundKaye Family Research EndowmentEllison/Baszucki Family FoundationManley FamilyAbbottNeuronetics
from Dr.JerryArtz.I.K. is supported by the NIH (NINDS L30 NS134024) . F.L.W.V.J.S. is supported by the American Epilepsy Society (846534) and the NIH (NINDS R01 NS127892) .A.D.B. is supported by the NIH (NINDS R01 NS114405) and the Roy.J. CarverTrust.J.G. receives generous supportfrom theJohn. F.Templeton Foundation, theTherapeutic Cognitive Neuroscience Fund (John Hopkins Medical School-Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.) and the Rosenberg/Carlin Fund. M.D.F. is supported by grants from the NIH (R01MH113929, R21MH126271, R56AG069086, R21NS123813, R01NS127892, R01MH130666, UM1NS132358) , Neuronetics, the Kaye Family Research Endowment, the Ellison/Baszucki Family Foundation, and the Manley Family. M.D.F. has intellectual property on the use of brain connectivity imaging to analyze lesions and guide brain stimulation, is a consultant for Magnus Medical, Soterix, Abbott, and Boston Scientific, and has received research funding from Neuronetics.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/03/2024
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Neurology; Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurology (Pediatrics)
- Record Identifier
- 9984699053302771
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