The truth is in there: Belief processes in the human brain

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Belief is a fundamental psychological function influencing emotion and behavior.
• Aberrant beliefs are implicated in various mental disorders.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of belief is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural correlates of belief and disbelief using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• To examine brain activity associated with judging the veracity and certainty of various statements.
• To propose a neural process model of belief.

Main Methods:

• fMRI study with 30 healthy participants.
• Participants evaluated statements (facts, politics, religion, conspiracy theories, superstition) for truthfulness (belief/disbelief) and certainty.
• Analysis of brain activation patterns linked to belief, disbelief, and certainty.

Main Results:

• Belief-associated activation observed in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, superior parietal cortex, and lateral frontopolar cortex.
• Disbelief-associated activation found in anterior temporal cortex and amygdala.
• Ventromedial prefrontal cortex showed greater deactivation for disbelief, particularly during decision-making.
• Category-specific activation for conspiracy theories in retrosplenial cortex and parahippocampal gyrus.
• Distinct neural networks identified for certainty (anterior cingulate cortex) and uncertainty (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex).

Conclusions:

• Results support a two-factor neural model of belief, encompassing veracity and certainty.
• Identified distinct neural substrates for belief, disbelief, and the processing of uncertainty.
• Findings contribute to understanding the neural basis of belief formation and its potential role in psychopathology.