Conducting cognitive and social neuroscience research investigating the brain basis of religious beliefs
Which regions of the brain are responsible for religious and spiritual experiences? Why and how do people develop relationships with supernatural agents?
We are attempting to answer these questions by conducting state-of-the-art cognitive and social neuroscience research projects that address the brain bases of how people formulate and express relational religious beliefs and belief in God. We believe the tools of neuroscience can uniquely contribute to a better understanding of how people think about God and other supernatural agents, and the nature and functioning of religious cognition more generally.
What’s New?
The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams, 2nd Edition
Now available, this new book by Patrick McNamara, published by Cambridge University Press, focuses on recent developments in the social nature of sleep and dreams.
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Religious Experience, Second Edition
This book by Patrick McNamara was published with Cambridge University Press in June 2022. Updated and expanded in a new edition, it updates key topics covered in the first edition.
YOUR BRAIN ON RELIGION: Exploring the Neuroscience of Religious Experience
Patrick McNamara discusses why he believes religion to be a ‘transformational technology’ and the impact of brain pathology on religiosity.
Project Leaders
Jordan Grafman
Jordan Grafman, Ph.D., is the Director of Brain Injury Research at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and a Professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in the departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology, Psychiatry, and the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Mesulam Center, as well as the Department of Psychology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
Patrick McNamara
Patrick McNamara, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Northcentral University and Associate Professor of Neurology at Boston University of Medicine.