Belief in supernatural agents and other religious myths arose as a means of ‘explaining’ the unknown and as a tool for social cohesion and hierarchical control of civilizations. Their religiosity is major feature of a ‘believers’ self identity as well as their group identity. Compelling evidence from multiple types of studies have revealed the neurobiological foundations of beliefs in imaginary deities, an afterlife, and other religious myths. In this episode neuropsychologist Jordan Grafman talks about his research and related research showing that neural circuits in the prefrontal cortex convey religious beliefs much as they convey other beliefs (political, economic, etc.). Particularly fascinating are the results of brain imaging studies of mental imagery (e.g., ‘communicating’ with God), religious fundamentalism, and studies of Vietnam veterans who suffered penetrating brain injuries that dramatically affected their religiosity. These studies confirm and extend previous brain imaging studies by showing that spirituality maps to a brain circuit in the periaqueductal grey similar to lesions that cause delusions.

LINKS

Review articles

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9583670/pdf/fnbeh-16-977600.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11638176/pdf/fnhum-18-1495565.pdf

Functional brain imaging and religious experiences

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2660736/pdf/zpq4876.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3929007/pdf/brain.2013.0172.pdf

Brain lesions and religiosity

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6197485/pdf/nihms958660.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8714871/pdf/nihms-1735983.pdf

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11388357/pdf/pnas.202322399.pdf