Belief, Belief Change, and Dissonance in the Brain Flashcards
What is the difference between a delusion and a belief?
A delusion is not usually shared by other people and the individual knows that. They can also be a lot more fluid
What is the relevance of ‘beliefs’ to neuropsychiatry?
▪️Delusional beliefs (psychosis)
▪️Negative self beliefs (depression)
▪️Getting ‘stuck’ (depression, autism)
▪️Expectations (FND)
▪️Cultural expressions (e.g. ED in the 90s, hysteria)
▪️Beliefs about causes of illness, treatments, and cures
▪️Scientific controversies (e.g. DSM changes, chronic Lyme)
What is a belief?
▪️Any idea our brain accepts as ‘true’
▪️Feeling of knowing
▪️Even if abstract knowledge that it could be wrong
What are the two main aspects of belief?
▪️A reasoned component (evidence)
▪️An intuitive, automatic component (feeling)
What theory fits with the two aspects of belief?
The dual process theory of cognition
What is the dual process theory of cognition?
A theory that describes reasoning and decision-making as a function of two systems:
▪️System I - intuitive, experiential, affective
▪️System II - analytical, deliberate
Can you distinguish belief from disbelief in the brain?
Yes, using functional imaging
What three distinct brain states were found in Harris’ (2008) study of functional neuroimaging and belief?
▪️Belief (accepting as true)
▪️Disbelief (rejecting as false)
▪️Uncertainty
Is the belief brain state dependent on the “category” of a belief (e.g. factual, ethical, religious)
No - they are independent
It is a general brain state for all belief
What brain activation is seen in belief?
Close to the default mode network state, with slight increase in VLPFC
What does the belief brain state suggest about belief and disbelief?
It is close to the default state, suggesting that very little is needed to decide something is true
Disbelief needs to override this default state
What did Harris (2009) find when comparing belief states of atheists and Christians?
No distinguishable difference between belief-disbelief contrasts of the two groups, suggesting that belief states are independent of the “type” of believer.
What does the study comparing atheist and Christian belief states tell us about the correctness of belief?
It is not to be found inside the brain
What have imaging studies shown about the inferential mechanisms needed to reach belief decisions?
Different mechanisms are required for different types of belief (e.g. religious, factual, testable, political)
BUT final decision shows no difference
Are true/false and certainty/uncertainty dealt with the same in the brain and how can this be seen in neuropsychiatry?
No
Psychosis = false beliefs with great certainty
Depression = false beliefs with little certainty