The Role of Cognitive Control in Paranormal Beliefs: A Study Based on Performance in Go/No-go Task

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Belief Systems

Background:

• Cognitive control is crucial for human behavior and mental processes.
• Cognitive control influences the formation and maintenance of paranormal beliefs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between cognitive control and paranormal beliefs.
• To examine how cognitive control differs across individuals with varying levels of paranormal belief.

Main Methods:

• 92 participants categorized into severe paranormal believers, mild paranormal believers, and skeptics.
• Participants completed the revised paranormal belief scale (R-PBS).
• Cognitive control assessed using the go/no-go task.

Main Results:

• Significant differences observed in go/no-go task performance across groups (P=0.01).
• Paranormal believers (severe and mild) demonstrated lower accuracy and slower reaction times than skeptics.
• Weaknesses in cognitive control were evident in all go/no-go subscales for believers.

Conclusions:

• Paranormal beliefs are associated with diminished cognitive control.
• Skeptics exhibit superior performance in accuracy and reaction time, indicating better cognitive control.
• Findings suggest a potential neurocognitive basis for paranormal belief susceptibility.