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religion

This shows two people surrounded by an orange light

·February 19, 2025·4 min read

Spiritual Practices Share a Common Mental Pathway to Deep Bliss

Researchers found that Buddhist jhāna meditation and Christian speaking in tongues, despite their differences, share a common cognitive feedback loop. This process, called the Attention, Arousal, and Release Spiral, creates a cycle where focused attention leads to joy, making concentration effortless and deepening the experience.

Neuroscience

·February 7, 2024·4 min read

AI: Unveiling Mysteries of Faith and Religion

AI is revolutionizing how we engage with ancient faith texts and spirituality, making previously inaccessible texts available through advanced technologies like 3D X-ray imaging and language models. Researchers demonstrated this by deciphering burnt papyrus from AD 79 using AI, while startups are creating AI-Gurus for guiding through Sanskrit texts. However, the technology also poses risks of misinformation, as seen in the creation of deepfake images.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 14, 2023·4 min read

Leap of Faith: How Belief in God Spurs Risk-Taking

Religious beliefs influence risk-taking behaviors. Focusing on Christian Americans, the research found that those who view God as a protective figure are more confident in undertaking risks.

This shows a well dressed robot with a bible.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 24, 2023·4 min read

Robo-Religion: AI Preachers Questioned for Credibility & Impact on Donations

Religious groups may find their credibility and financial support undermined with the growing use of AI and robot preachers, according to researchers. The study involved experiments with the Mindar humanoid robot in Japan and Pepper in Singapore, both delivering sermons to audiences.

This shows a man sitting at a desk with a coffee and a bible.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 24, 2023·4 min read

Morning Larks, Religion, and Happiness: A Unique Link

Religious tendencies could contribute to the previously noted connection between morning preference and life satisfaction. Researchers conducted surveys of Polish adults assessing their morning-evening preference, conscientiousness, religiosity, and satisfaction with life.

This shows a person's hands clasped in prayer

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 8, 2023·5 min read

Abortion Views Closely Tied to Views on Race and Religion

The relationship between religion, attitudes toward race, and abortion rights have grown stronger in recent years. Researchers found those who exhibit high racial resentment are more inclined to espouse anti-choice attitudes, regardless of a person's religious views or political beliefs. For example, religious conservatives with low racial resentment are more likely to be pro-choice than their peers who exhibit higher racial resentment. The same is true for religious liberals with low racial resentment.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 2, 2022·5 min read

Study Examines Link Between Accountability to God and Psychological Well-Being

People who consider themselves more accountable to a god report higher levels of three of the four variables of psychological wellbeing. The association was stronger in people who pray more often, suggesting accountability accompanied with prayer enhances psychological wellbeing for believers.

This is a cartoon of a scientist working in her lab

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 8, 2022·4 min read

Scientists Carry Greater Credibility Than Spiritual Gurus

Both the majority of religious and non-religious people consider information provided by scientists to be more credible and reliable than information provided by religious leaders, a new study report.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 5, 2022·3 min read

Study Examines Attachment to God and Psychological Distress

Researchers report religious people who relate to a God in an uncertain or anxious manner are more likely to experience psychological distress disorders, including anxiety, paranoia, and obsessive compulsions. Findings reveal how different styles of attachment to a deity may be associated with poorer mental health outcomes.

This shows a spiral of stained glass windows

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 15, 2021·5 min read

Research Reveals Potential New Way to Fight Radicalization in True Believers

Researchers report that extreme behaviors exhibited by "true believers" of a religion or belief system are driven by the degree to which their identity fuses with a cause or belief. The findings could help in the fight against radicalization.

This shows an older person's hands crossed in meditation

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 11, 2021·5 min read

Meditative Practice and Spiritual Wellbeing May Preserve Cognitive Function in Aging

Kirtan Kriya, a simple meditation practice that centers on psychological and spiritual wellbeing, may help to reduce some Alzheimer's related risk factors and improve cognition in older adults.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 24, 2021·4 min read

Atheists and Believers Both Have Moral Compasses, but With Key Differences

Atheists are more likely to believe the morality of an action is based on its consequences, while theists are more inclined to endorse moral values that promote group cohesion. Both believers and non-believers share moral values related to protecting vulnerable individuals and liberty versus oppression, a new study concludes.

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religion

Spiritual Practices Share a Common Mental Pathway to Deep Bliss

AI: Unveiling Mysteries of Faith and Religion

Leap of Faith: How Belief in God Spurs Risk-Taking

Robo-Religion: AI Preachers Questioned for Credibility & Impact on Donations

Morning Larks, Religion, and Happiness: A Unique Link

Abortion Views Closely Tied to Views on Race and Religion

Study Examines Link Between Accountability to God and Psychological Well-Being

Scientists Carry Greater Credibility Than Spiritual Gurus

Study Examines Attachment to God and Psychological Distress

Research Reveals Potential New Way to Fight Radicalization in True Believers

Meditative Practice and Spiritual Wellbeing May Preserve Cognitive Function in Aging

Atheists and Believers Both Have Moral Compasses, but With Key Differences

HIV Drugs Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk

Bigger Brains and Strong Immunity Linked to Longer Lifespans

How Brain Signals Shape Its Protective Waste Disposal Network

Parental Genes Indirectly Influence Child Development

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