The Neural Basis of Human Belief Systems (Contemporary Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience)

Is the everyday understanding of belief susceptible to scientific investigation? Belief is one of the most commonly used, yet unexplained terms in neuro-science. Beliefs can be seen as forms of mental representations and belief as one of the building blocks of our conscious thoughts. This book provides an interdisciplinary overview of what we currently know about the neural basis of human belief systems, and how different belief systems are implemented in the human brain. The chapters in this volume explain how the neural correlates of beliefs mediate a range of explicit and implicit behaviors ranging from moral decision making to the practice of religion. Drawing inferences from philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, religion, and cognitive neuroscience, the book has important implications for understanding how different belief systems are implemented in the human brain, and outlines the directions which research on the cognitive neuroscience of beliefs should take in the future. The Neural Basis of Human Belief Systems will be of great interest to researchers in the fields of psychology, philosophy, psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. CONTENT 2 0. Preface 2 1. What are Beliefs? 5 Introduction 5 Beliefs: The Philosophical Background 6 Beliefs as Linguaform Structures 7 Is Information Theory the Right Model for Beliefs? 9 Limits to the Information Theory Approach 10 Beliefs and Representational Maps 11 Notes 14 References 14 2. The Neuropsychology of Belief Formation 15 Introduction 15 Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Delusional Belief 16 The Two Factor Explanatory Framework 18 Doxastic Inhibition and the Right Prefrontal Cortex 23 Feelings of Rightness (And Wrongness) and the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex5 24 Conclusion 26 Notes 26 References 26 3. A Multiple Systems approach to Causal Reasoning 29 Introduction 29 Four Psychological Theories of Causal Inference and their Neural Implications 30 Force Composition Theory 30 Neural Predictions of Force Composition Theory 31 Causal Model Theory 32 Neural Predictions of the Causal Model Theory 33 Mental Models Theory 34 Neural Predictions of Mental Models Theory 35 Causal Simulation Theory 36 Neural Predictions of Causal Simulation Theory 38 Review of Neuroscience Literature 39 Causal Reasoning 39 Deductive Reasoning 40 Conclusions 41 Future Research 42 References 44 4. The Neural Bases of Attitudes, Evaluation, and Behavior Change 46 5. Interpersonal Trust as a Dynamic Belief 60 6. The Neural Bases of Moral Belief Systems 69 7. Neuroscientific Approaches to ‘Mens Rea’ Assessment 80 8. The Neural Structure of Political Belief 92 9. The Neural Basis of Religion 98 10. The Neural Basis of Abnormal Personal Belief 111 Introduction 111 Understanding Delusions 111 Defining the Construct 112 Accepted (Rather than Acceptable) Definitions of Abnormal Personal Belief 112 Cognitive Neuropsychiatry 114 Cognitive Accounts of Delusions 115 Hemispheric Asymmetry Model of Delusions 116 Neuropathological Accounts of Delusion Formation 118 Pathophysiology of Gross Anatomy 118 Neurobio Logical Accounts of Delusion Formation 122 Computational and Connectionist Models of Delusion Formation 123 Kenneth Colby’s Procedural Model of Paranoia 123 Dopamine Modulation Models 124 Neural Pruning Models 124 Hyperassociation Models 125 Conclusions 126 References 126 11. I Believe to My Soul 132 Introduction 132 Social Belief Systems Activate Collective Brain Systems 135 Putting it all Together: The Believing Human Brain 136 Conclusions 137 References 137 12. Bonus 1. A cognitive account of belief: a tentative road map 144 Introduction 145 Defining Belief 146 Neglect of Belief 147 A Functional Perspective on Belief 148 Characteristics and Dimensions of Belief 149 Candidate Cognitive Processes 151 Stages of Belief Formation 155 I. Precursor 156 II. Search for Meaning 157 III. Candidate Belief Evaluation 159 IV. Accepting or Holding the Belief 161 V. Consequential Effects of Holding the Belief 161 Future Directions 162 References 163 13. Bonus 2. Models and Neural Bases of the Believing Process 169 1. Introduction 170 1.1. Question of Belief 170 1.2. Question of Believing 170 1.3. Framework of Credition 171 1.4. Purpose 171 2. Review of the Existing Models 171 2.1. Believing as a Self-Organization Process 171 2.2. Two Components of the Believing Process 172 2.3. The Roles of Frontal Cortex 173 2.4. Cortical Belief Representations 173 2.5. Origin of Belief Representations 174 3. Proposal 176 3.1. Integrated Model 176 3.2. Issues on Neural Mechanism 178 3.3. Impact on Interdisciplinary Science of Believing 178 References 179 Belief Is One Of The Most Commonly Used, Yet Unexplained Terms In Neuroscience. Beliefs Can Be Seen As Forms Of Mental Representations And One Of The Building Blocks Of Our Conscious Thoughts. This Book Provides An Interdisciplinary Overview Of What We Currently Know About The Neural Basis Of Human Belief Systems, And How Different Belief Systems Are Implemented In The Human Brain. The Chapters In This Volume Explain How The Neural Correlates Of Beliefs Mediate A Range Of Explicit And Implicit Behaviours Ranging From Moral Decision Making, To The Practice Of Religion. Drawing Inferences From Philosophy, Psychology, Psychiatry, Religion, And Cognitive Neuroscience, The Book Has Important Implications For Understanding How Different Belief Systems Are Implemented In The Human Brain, And Outlines The Directions Which Research On The Cognitive Neuroscience Of Beliefs Should Take In The Future. What Are Beliefs? / Patricia S. Churchland And Paul M. Churchland -- The Neuropsychology Of Belief Formation / Robyn Langdon And Emily Connaughton -- A Multiple Systems Approach To Causal Reasoning / Richard Patterson And Aron K. Barbey -- The Neural Bases Of Attitudes, Evaluation, And Behavior Change / Emily B. Falk And Matthew D. Lieberman -- Interpersonal Trust As A Dynamic Belief / Ewart De Visser And Frank Krueger -- The Neural Bases Of Moral Belief Systems / Ricardo De Oliveira-souza, Roland Zahn, And Jorge Moll -- Neuroscientific Approaches To 'mens Rea' Assessment / Ullrich Wagner And Henrik Walter -- The Neural Structure Of Political Belief / Laura Moretti ... [et Al.] -- The Neural Basis Of Religion / Joseph Bulbulia And Uffe Schjoedt -- The Neural Basis Of Abnormal Personal Belief / Vaughan Bell And Peter W. Halligan -- I Believe To My Soul / Frank Krueger And Jordan Grafman. Edited By Frank Kreuger & Jordan Grafman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Is the everyday understanding of belief susceptible to scientific investigation? Belief is one of the most commonly used, yet unexplained terms in neuroscience. Beliefs can be seen as forms of mental representations and one of the building blocks of our conscious thoughts. This book provides an interdisciplinary overview of what we currently know about the neural basis of human belief systems, and how different belief systems are implemented in the human brain. The chapters in this volume explain how the neural correlates of beliefs mediate a range of explicit and implicit behaviours ranging from moral decision making, to the practice of religion. Drawing inferences from philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, religion, and cognitive neuroscience, the book has important implications for understanding how different belief systems are implemented in the human brain, and outlines the directions which research on the cognitive neuroscience of beliefs should take in the future.The Neural Basis of Human Belief Systems will be of great interest to researchers in the fields of psychology, philosophy, psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. 1. What are beliefs? PATRICIA S. CHURCHLAND AND PAUL M. CHURCHLAND 2. The neuropsychology of belief formation ROBYN LANGDON AND EMILY CONNAUGHTON 3. A multiple systems approach to causal reasoning RICHARD PATTERSON AND ARON K. BARBEY 4. The neural bases of attitudes, evaluation, and behavior change EMILY B. FALK AND MATTHEW D. LIEBERMAN 5. Interpersonal trust as a dynamic belief EWART DE VISSER AND FRANK KRUEGER 6. The neural bases of moral belief systems RICARDO DE OLIVEIRA-SOUZA, ROLAND ZAHN, AND JORGE MOLL 7. Neuroscientific approaches to ‘mens rea’ assessment ULLRICH WAGNER AND HENRIK WALTER 8. The neural structure of political belief LAURA MORETTI, IRENE CRISTOFORI, GIOVANNA ZAMBONI, AND ANGELA SIRIGU 9. The neural basis of religion JOSEPH BULBULIA AND UFFE SCHJOEDT 10.The neural basis of abnormal personal belief VAUGHAN BELL AND PETER W. HALLIGAN 11.I believe to my soul FRANK KRUEGER AND JORDAN GRAFMAN 12. Bonus 1. A cognitive account of belief: a tentative road map......Page 144 13. Bonus 2. Models and Neural Bases of the Believing Process......Page 169 Drawing inferences from philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, religion, and cognitive neuroscience, this volume provides an overview on how the neural correlates of beliefs mediate a range of behaviors and has important implications for understanding how different belief systems are implemented in the human brain.