Anxiolytic function of fundamentalist beliefs: Neurocognitive evidence

Abstract

The study focuses on the relationship between religious fundamentalism and brain activity, investigating whether religious beliefs, especially in a fundamentalist form, act as a bulwark against uncertainty that mitigates feelings of threat and worthlessness. We hypothesize that this muted response to uncertainty would manifest neurophysiologically, such that under uncertainty (vs. certainty), religious fundamentalism is associated with reduced activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and evinced in the N2 component. Religious fundamentalism was measured on a scale and electroencephalographic neural reactivity in the ACC was recorded as participants completed a Stroop task. We found that greater religious fundamentalism is associated with lower conflict-related anterior cingulate activity (N2 component), suggesting lower sensitivity to cues that might alter a habitual response pattern. This study provides evidence that religious fundamentalism, by providing a sense of coherency and control, may offer relief from distress and uncertainty.