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Assessing the value of event-related potentials (ERPs) as an implicit correlate of explicit supernatural beliefs: a high-powered preregistered EEG study
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  • Athina Bruss,
  • Josephine Marschall,
  • Antonia Lilja,
  • Uffe Schjoedt,
  • Michiel van Elk
Athina Bruss
Leiden University
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Josephine Marschall
Leiden University
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Antonia Lilja
Hamburg University of Technology
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Uffe Schjoedt
Aarhus Universitet
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Michiel van Elk
Leiden University

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Abstract

In this pre-registered study, we assessed the value of event-related potentials (ERPs) as an implicit measure of individual differences in supernatural beliefs and attitudes. Across two experiments (A and B), two groups of participants (believers vs. non-believers) were presented with attitude and belief statements about religious, spiritual and control phenomena. The ERP analysis focused on the N400-effect, which is often used as a proxy for the effortful semantic processing of information that conflicts with one’s worldview (e.g., when believers read atheist statements, and vice versa). At the explicit behavioral level (i.e., button-press to agree/disagree with a statement), the two groups of participants responded in accordance with their self-reported beliefs. We failed, however, to find any of the hypothesized differences on the N400-effect. Whether the absence of the expected N400-effect may be attributed to (1) heterogeneity in believers and non-believers, (2) design and stimulus material, and (3) choices made in the analysis, is discussed, and improvements are suggested for future research using ERPs as an implicit marker of supernatural belief and unbelief.