Photo
by Nick Benjaminsz
Many people derive peace of mind and purpose in life from their belief
in God. For others, however, religion provides unsatisfying answers. Are
there brain differences between believers and nonbelievers? Here we show
that religious conviction is marked by reduced reactivity in the anterior
cingulate cortex (ACC), a cortical system that is involved in the experience
of anxiety and is important for
self-regulation. In two studies, we recorded electroencephalographic neural
reactivity in the ACC as participants completed a Stroop task. Results
showed that stronger religious zeal and greater belief inGodwere associated
with less firing of the ACC in response to error and with commission of
fewer errors. These correlations remained strong even after we controlled
for personality and cognitive ability. These results suggest that religious
conviction provides
a framework for understanding and acting within one’s environment, thereby
acting as a buffer against anxiety and minimizing the experience of error. (click
for full text pdf)
