Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity.
We hypothesized that religiosity, a set of traits variably expressed in the population, is modulated by neuroanatomical variability. We tested this idea by determining whether aspects of religiosity were predicted by variability in regional cortical volume. We performed structural magnetic resonance...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2009-09-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007180&type=printable |
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| author | Dimitrios Kapogiannis Aron K Barbey Michael Su Frank Krueger Jordan Grafman |
| author_facet | Dimitrios Kapogiannis Aron K Barbey Michael Su Frank Krueger Jordan Grafman |
| author_sort | Dimitrios Kapogiannis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We hypothesized that religiosity, a set of traits variably expressed in the population, is modulated by neuroanatomical variability. We tested this idea by determining whether aspects of religiosity were predicted by variability in regional cortical volume. We performed structural magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 40 healthy adult participants who reported different degrees and patterns of religiosity on a survey. We identified four Principal Components of religiosity by Factor Analysis of the survey items and associated them with regional cortical volumes measured by voxel-based morphometry. Experiencing an intimate relationship with God and engaging in religious behavior was associated with increased volume of R middle temporal cortex, BA 21. Experiencing fear of God was associated with decreased volume of L precuneus and L orbitofrontal cortex BA 11. A cluster of traits related with pragmatism and doubting God's existence was associated with increased volume of the R precuneus. Variability in religiosity of upbringing was not associated with variability in cortical volume of any region. Therefore, key aspects of religiosity are associated with cortical volume differences. This conclusion complements our prior functional neuroimaging findings in elucidating the proximate causes of religion in the brain. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bd86345ae7d84da0923d57ca65acff0d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2009-09-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-bd86345ae7d84da0923d57ca65acff0d2025-08-20T03:25:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032009-09-0149e718010.1371/journal.pone.0007180Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity.Dimitrios KapogiannisAron K BarbeyMichael SuFrank KruegerJordan GrafmanWe hypothesized that religiosity, a set of traits variably expressed in the population, is modulated by neuroanatomical variability. We tested this idea by determining whether aspects of religiosity were predicted by variability in regional cortical volume. We performed structural magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 40 healthy adult participants who reported different degrees and patterns of religiosity on a survey. We identified four Principal Components of religiosity by Factor Analysis of the survey items and associated them with regional cortical volumes measured by voxel-based morphometry. Experiencing an intimate relationship with God and engaging in religious behavior was associated with increased volume of R middle temporal cortex, BA 21. Experiencing fear of God was associated with decreased volume of L precuneus and L orbitofrontal cortex BA 11. A cluster of traits related with pragmatism and doubting God's existence was associated with increased volume of the R precuneus. Variability in religiosity of upbringing was not associated with variability in cortical volume of any region. Therefore, key aspects of religiosity are associated with cortical volume differences. This conclusion complements our prior functional neuroimaging findings in elucidating the proximate causes of religion in the brain.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007180&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Dimitrios Kapogiannis Aron K Barbey Michael Su Frank Krueger Jordan Grafman Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity. PLoS ONE |
| title | Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity. |
| title_full | Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity. |
| title_fullStr | Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity. |
| title_short | Neuroanatomical variability of religiosity. |
| title_sort | neuroanatomical variability of religiosity |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007180&type=printable |
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