I saw a form of this in the Deep South in the late 60's...... the little town on the AL-GA border still had segregated schools, drinking fountains, waiting rooms, et al.
The mental effort required to deny the obvious humanity of all those "darkies" (to use the politest term) actually made the whites Stupid. (I was only 18 at the time,with plenty of personal problems, not woke or scholarly in any way) but it was so Obvious!

Strictly speaking it impairs human thinking. Not a field I'm qualified in, but I've read enough and watched enough presentations and alike from scientists who are qualified to appreciate the importance of studies into the neurology and psychology of religion. I think these are fields that all real atheists should take an interest in; another string to our bow, along with the bad history, mythology, unproven supernatural claims, and emotional blackmail and fear, the essence of all religion.

As such anything that can be labeled as a religion or deep seated belief to the exclusion of supportable fact. Historically this could be applied to hard line NAZIs in 1945 for example.
A closed mindset denying analysis of fresh or conflicting data reduces the mind's ability to think. Effectively self brain-washing to the point of psychosis.

References to study please

I work with an intelligent woman who recently told me that our DNA was better and more pure in the time of Adam and Eve. She is a believer but not an active church attender.

Link study or it didn’t happen.
What rots brains is lies and half-truths.
Merry Christmas!

its more like 'turns off the brain

also

social media kills brain cells

write that down