Publications by authors named "Erik W Asp"
A neural network for religious fundamentalism derived from patients with brain lesions.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- Religious fundamentalism is a global phenomenon rooted in strict belief systems, and its psychological and neurobiological underpinnings can help address various societal issues.
- Research suggests that brain lesions influencing levels of religious fundamentalism are connected to a specific brain network, primarily located in the right hemisphere, including areas like the orbitofrontal and prefrontal lobes.
- Connections between this fundamentalism network and other conditions (like confabulation and criminal behavior) point to a relationship between brain structure and behaviors often associated with cognitive rigidity and hostility towards others.
The human impulse to punish those who have unjustly harmed others (i.e., third-party punishment) is critical for stable, cooperative societies.
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- Learning how to make moral choices that consider others instead of just yourself is really important for growing up.
- Some people who have brain damage in a specific area called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex think more selfishly and are likely to break moral rules or hurt others to get what they want.
- This shows that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is important for developing good morals, and if it gets hurt when you're young, it can stop you from learning to care about other people's feelings.