Resting-State Electroencephalogram (EEG) Coherence Over Frontal Regions in Paranormal Beliefs

Abstract

Introduction: Paranormal beliefs are defined as believing in extrasensory perception, precognition, witchcraft, and telekinesis, magical thinking, psychokinesis, superstitions. Previous studies corroborate that executive brain functions underpin paranormal beliefs. To test causal hypotheses, neurophysiological studies of brain activity are required. Method: A sample of 20 students (10 females, age: 22.50 ± 4.07 years) were included for the current study. The absolute power of resting-state EEG in intrahemispheric and interhemispheric coherence was analyzed with eyes opened. The paranormal beliefs were determined based on the total score of the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS). Result: The results of this study demonstrated that there was a significant negative relationship between paranormal beliefs and EEG resting state in alpha band activity in the frontal lobe (left hemisphere), EEG coherence of alpha and beta1, beta2, and gamma band activities in the frontal lobe (right hemisphere) and coherence of alpha and beta1, beta2 and gamma band activities between frontal regions (two hemispheres). In addition, the results showed that coherence of alpha, alpha1, beta, and beta2 band activities between frontal lobe (right hemispheres) and EEG coherence of delta, alpha1, and band activities in the frontal lobe (two hemispheres) predicted paranormal beliefs. Conclusion: This study confirms connecting executive brain functions to paranormal beliefs, and determines that frontal brain functioning may contribute to paranormal beliefs.

Target Distance from the Visual Field and Increased Age Affect Visual Search Efficiency: Behavioral and Modeling Evidence

“…Finally, the ability to detect the presence or absence of a target holds paramount importance in decision-making, particularly when our perceptions are susceptible to influence from belief systems 22,23 . Therefore, it is advisable to employ visual search as a cognitive function examination to scrutinize many of these beliefs, including paranormal beliefs, which may be afflicted by cognitive defects [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] .…”

Conspiracy beliefs are associated with a reduction in frontal beta power and biases in categorizing ambiguous stimuli

“…Believers, on the other hand, showed random performance when categorizing ambiguous face and house stimuli. This suggests that the bias in the categorization of ambiguous stimuli is influenced more by disbelief in conspiracy theories than by belief [ [20] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] ]. The results point to a possible relationship between beta activity in frontal lobe and the enhanced of conspiracy belief holders to find significant patterns in ambiguous information.…”

“…This stable association over time indicates that resting EEG provides insight into prior neural functioning [ [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] ]. Consequently, the study of resting-state EEG activity holds the potential to enhance our understanding of core brain functions linked to cognitive processes associated with conspiracy theories and paranormal beliefs [ 31 , 32 ]. The examination of event-related neural oscillations across different frequency bands suggests a means to evaluate brain responses [ 33 ].…”

Paranormal believers are quicker but less accurate in rejecting the presence of the target in conjunction visual search compared to skeptics

“…Research has explored the correlation between cognitive functioning and beliefs in the paranormal [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . Irwin 13 suggests that paranormal believers might experience cognitive deficiencies, a notion supported by several studies indicating shortcomings across various cognitive domains among this group.…”