Study finds link between brain damage and fundamentalism

[drfuzzy]

Yes. "A new study in the journal Neuropsychologia found that lesions in a particular brain region tend to increase religious fundamentalism."  Vietnam vets who had lesions in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex had more instances of religious fundamentalism.
http://www.psypost.org/2017/05/study-unc...lism-48860

Now, they admit straight away that the study is limited.  (Well, most good ones are, of course.  Too many variables creates havoc.)  I haven't been able to access the actual study, but the three reports that I have read do not indicate whether any research was done on the family history of the injured veterans.  They had to be of the baby-boomer generation, when a greater percentage of Americans were raised in (christian) religious households.  Were they all from the same area of the country?  (Coastal vs. deep south would be interesting.)  I could ask a lot of questions, and we well know that early indoctrination, lack of advanced education, geography, group-think, and fear of death all play into fundamentalism.  

But it's an interesting read.  The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain that houses openness, curiosity, and flexibility in our belief systems.  Damage it, and apparently you hold on more strongly to your beliefs and react with aggression (and fear) when anyone challenges those beliefs.

[Edwardo Piet]

Limited study eh? Well, are they sure it's not the other way around? Are they sure it's not the religious fundamentalism that's causing the brain damage?

[Zenith]

Limited study eh? Well, are they sure it's not the other way around? Are they sure it's not the religious fundamentalism that's causing the brain damage?

Talking to an imaginary friend and relying upon him to help you in need... I don't think that's mentally healthy. Not phsyically healthy either.

[Edwardo Piet]

Exactly.

[chimp3]

Sorry to break the news...but if they run such a scan on me they will find a link between atheism and brain damage.

[JoshuaBE516]

A group of Christian fundamentalists talk about this study; it can be found at the Creation Liberty forums: http://creationliberty.com/forum/index.p...sg3366#new

They had interesting things to say, and presented some points I had never considered. I learned some things, and I would recommend watching it when you have the time.  (And yes, I have a bias.)

[The Valkyrie]

Yes. "A new study in the journal Neuropsychologia found that lesions in a particular brain region tend to increase religious fundamentalism."  Vietnam vets who had lesions in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex had more instances of religious fundamentalism.
http://www.psypost.org/2017/05/study-unc...lism-48860

Now, they admit straight away that the study is limited.  (Well, most good ones are, of course.  Too many variables creates havoc.)  I haven't been able to access the actual study, but the three reports that I have read do not indicate whether any research was done on the family history of the injured veterans.  They had to be of the baby-boomer generation, when a greater percentage of Americans were raised in (christian) religious households.  Were they all from the same area of the country?  (Coastal vs. deep south would be interesting.)  I could ask a lot of questions, and we well know that early indoctrination, lack of advanced education, geography, group-think, and fear of death all play into fundamentalism.  

But it's an interesting read.  The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain that houses openness, curiosity, and flexibility in our belief systems.  Damage it, and apparently you hold on more strongly to your beliefs and react with aggression (and fear) when anyone challenges those beliefs.

So "all fundies and zealots have brain damage"?

We knew this already.



Seriously though, I've put this on my list to read later.

[Silver]

Over the four years I have been here, I have seen plenty of these studies.

Still, religious people continue to believe in their fairy tales. No surprise there.

[Edwardo Piet]

In truth.... there ARE highly intelligent theists out there. Some of the most intelligent people in the world are atheists... but some are theists. And yes it's even possible to get highly intelligent fundies. Very rare... but possible. (Of course the part of them that believes in their fundie beliefs is retarded... but they may be otherwise intelligent. It's crazy how split-brained religious folks can be).

My theory for this is because I think that people believe in religion for emotional rather than rational reasons... and at the end of the day, ultimately, when our rational and emotional side are equally powerful..... the emotional side wins out.

I think this quote sums up for why religious belief exists:

[vorlon13]

An obvious FRAUD and CHARLATAN like Rev. Pat Robertson is nevertheless smart enough to keep the flock from immolating him.