Belief, Belief Change, and Dissonance in the Brain

Question 1

What is the difference between a delusion and a belief?

Answer 1

A delusion is not usually shared by other people and the individual knows that. They can also be a lot more fluid

Question 2

What is the relevance of ‘beliefs’ to neuropsychiatry?

Answer 2

▪️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)

Question 3

What is a belief?

Answer 3

▪️Any idea our brain accepts as ‘true’
▪️Feeling of knowing
▪️Even if abstract knowledge that it could be wrong

Question 4

What are the two main aspects of belief?

Answer 4

▪️A reasoned component (evidence)
▪️An intuitive, automatic component (feeling)

Question 5

What theory fits with the two aspects of belief?

Answer 5

The dual process theory of cognition

Question 6

What is the dual process theory of cognition?

Answer 6

A theory that describes reasoning and decision-making as a function of two systems:

▪️System I - intuitive, experiential, affective
▪️System II - analytical, deliberate

Question 7

Can you distinguish belief from disbelief in the brain?

Answer 7

Yes, using functional imaging

Question 8

What three distinct brain states were found in Harris’ (2008) study of functional neuroimaging and belief?

Answer 8

▪️Belief (accepting as true)
▪️Disbelief (rejecting as false)
▪️Uncertainty

Question 9

Is the belief brain state dependent on the “category” of a belief (e.g. factual, ethical, religious)

Answer 9

No - they are independent

It is a general brain state for all belief

Question 10

What brain activation is seen in belief?

Answer 10

Close to the default mode network state, with slight increase in VLPFC

Question 11

What does the belief brain state suggest about belief and disbelief?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What did Harris (2009) find when comparing belief states of atheists and Christians?

Answer 12

No distinguishable difference between belief-disbelief contrasts of the two groups, suggesting that belief states are independent of the “type” of believer.

Question 13

What does the study comparing atheist and Christian belief states tell us about the correctness of belief?

Answer 13

It is not to be found inside the brain

Question 14

What have imaging studies shown about the inferential mechanisms needed to reach belief decisions?

Answer 14

Different mechanisms are required for different types of belief (e.g. religious, factual, testable, political)

BUT final decision shows no difference

Question 15

Are true/false and certainty/uncertainty dealt with the same in the brain and how can this be seen in neuropsychiatry?

Answer 15

No

Psychosis = false beliefs with great certainty
Depression = false beliefs with little certainty

Question 16

What is the pyramid analogy of belief (action opinion theory)?

Answer 16

We begin at the top of the pyramid together but the further we go down one side, the more certain we become and the more our belief differs from someone down the other side, creating polarisation

Question 17

What is the Action-Opinion theory?

Answer 17

Actions and decisions influence our opinions and beliefs, likely to reduce dissonance

(Festinger, ~1950s)

Question 18

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 18

A state of discomfort/distress when our beliefs are challenged, particularly about ourselvds

E.g. if we view ourselves as good but we do a bad thing, we become distressed to reduce dissonance

Question 19

What role does distress play in cognitive dissonance

Answer 19

It acts as a force to reduce dissonance, especially when it relates to beliefs about ourselves

Question 20

What brain areas show activation in dissonance induction and disagreement, and what are these areas associated with ?

Answer 20

▪️Anterior insula - negative arousal
▪️ACC - conflict monitoring

Question 21

What brain activation changes do you see with dissonance reduction and resolution?

Answer 21

▪️Decreased activity in the anterior insula and amygdala (decreased negative and emotional arousal)
▪️Increased activity in ventral striatum (reward system)

Question 22

How might the brain changes seen with dissonance reduction influence belief?

Answer 22

Decreased negative feelings and increased reward feelings may create a double reward system with strengthens the belief

Question 23

How does activation in the negative arousal areas relate to ability to disagree?

Answer 23

Higher activation correlates with greater ability to disagree

I.e. The worse you feel when challenged, the more will disagree

Question 24

How does activation in the negative arousal areas relate to ability to change your mind?

Answer 24

Higher activation correlates with greater inability to change your mind

I.e. The worse your feel when someone challenges you, the harder it is to change your mind

Question 25

What role does the frontal pole play in belief systems?

Answer 25

Metacognition and introspection (thinking about thinking)

Question 26

How might response speed change with belief strength?

Answer 26

Faster = more certain
Slower = more uncertain