Science-Technology
See other Science-Technology Articles
Title: Political Views Are Reflected in Brain Structure
Source:
Science Daily
URL Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110407121337.htm
Published: Apr 7, 2011
Author: staff
Post Date: 2011-04-07 21:01:13 by jwpegler
Keywords: None
Views: 11920
Comments: 13
We all know that people at opposite ends of the political spectrum often really can't see eye to eye. Now, a new report published online on April 7th in Current Biology, reveals that those differences in political orientation are tied to differences in the very structures of our brains. Individuals who call themselves liberal tend to have larger anterior cingulate cortexes, while those who call themselves conservative have larger amygdalas. Based on what is known about the functions of those two brain regions, the structural differences are consistent with reports showing a greater ability of liberals to cope with conflicting information and a greater ability of conservatives to recognize a threat, the researchers say. "Previously, some psychological traits were known to be predictive of an individual's political orientation," said Ryota Kanai of the University College London. "Our study now links such personality traits with specific brain structure." Kanai said his study was prompted by reports from others showing greater anterior cingulate cortex response to conflicting information among liberals. "That was the first neuroscientific evidence for biological differences between liberals and conservatives," he explained. There had also been many prior psychological reports showing that conservatives are more sensitive to threat or anxiety in the face of uncertainty, while liberals tend to be more open to new experiences. Kanai's team suspected that such fundamental differences in personality might show up in the brain. And, indeed, that's exactly what they found. Kanai says they can't yet say for sure which came first. It's possible that brain structure isn't set in early life, but rather can be shaped over time by our experiences. And, of course, some people have been known to change their views over the course of a lifetime. It's also true that our political persuasions can fall into many more categories than liberal and conservative. "In principle, our research method can be applied to find brain structure differences in political dimensions other than the simplistic left- versus right-wingers," Kanai said. Perhaps differences in the brain explain why some people really have no interest in politics at all or why some people line up for Macs while others stick with their PCs. All of these tendencies may be related in interesting ways to the peculiarities of our personalities and in turn to the way our brains are put together. Still, Kanai cautioned against taking the findings too far, citing many uncertainties about how the correlations they see come about. "It's very unlikely that actual political orientation is directly encoded in these brain regions," he said. "More work is needed to determine how these brain structures mediate the formation of political attitude."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: jwpegler (#0)
That is an excellent perspective, Mr. jwpegler. And Ms. Goldie-Lox believes a mouse can have a brain worthy of "political" thought at all. It points out to some of that something is mis-wired in HER brain.
#2. To: Clyven (#1)
So, what's your excuse?
And Ms. Goldie-Lox believes a mouse can have a brain worthy of "political" thought at all. It points out to some of that something is mis-wired in HER brain.
***Naturally perfect and humble by default.***
#3. To: harrowup (#2)
Mr. harrowup, I'm a transgenic mouse here in the laboratory of Margaret A. Keyes, M.D., Ph.D. You should redirect your questions to Ms. Goldi-Lox; Goldi is my best admirer and proudly announced my human intelligence on LP. You can follow the mouse trail with the hotlink located just to the right of my post picture banner.
#4. To: jwpegler (#0)
I have long suspected this to be the case. There is no way differences in nurture alone, can explain the differences in reasoning- when it comes to politics.
#5. To: Clyven (#3)
I'm more interested in your tracking avatar.
You can follow the mouse trail with the hotlink located just to the right of my post picture banner.
***Naturally perfect and humble by default.***
#6. To: harrowup (#5) (Edited)
Mr. harrowup, if you had bothered to click on the hotlink provided you might understand that I have a fan club. One of my greatest and staunchest admirers is the world famous Ms. Goldi-Lox of LP; Goldi is the compassionate conservative webmistress of LibertyPost.org and she asks questions everyday from a mere mouse. Would you like me to reveal some of those questions? She didn't sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) so I am free to discuss any "tracking" you want.
I'm more interested in your tracking avatar.
#7. To: Clyven (#6)
No need; you've revealed more than enough. Good night.
Would you like me to reveal some of those questions?
***Naturally perfect and humble by default.***
#8. To: jwpegler (#0)
This might support the observation that conservatives tend to see things (over- simplistically) in black and white (e.g. you are with us or against us) while liberals tend to see the shades of gray.
Based on what is known about the functions of those two brain regions, the structural differences are consistent with reports showing a greater ability of liberals to cope with conflicting information and a greater ability of conservatives to recognize a threat, the researchers say.
#9. To: NewsJunky (#8)
This might support the observation that conservatives tend to see things (over- simplistically) in black and white (e.g. you are with us or against us) while liberals tend to see the shades of gray. "a greater ability of liberals to cope with conflicting information" It definitely explains a liberals ability to swallow and believe BS, hook, line and sinker.
"Based on what is known about the functions of those two brain regions, the structural differences are consistent with reports showing a greater ability of liberals to cope with conflicting information and a greater ability of conservatives to recognize a threat, the researchers say."
#10. To: NewsJunky (#8) (Edited)
That famous phrase was not uttered by a conservative. It was spoken by GW Bush who is a neoconservative and FAR closer in ideology to liberals than conservatives.
This might support the observation that conservatives tend to see things (over- simplistically) in black and white (e.g. you are with us or against us)
#11. To: We The People (#10)
Liberals don't think so.
It was spoken by GW Bush who is FAR closer in ideology to liberals than conservatives.
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
#12. To: jwpegler (#0)
#13. To: lucysmom (#11)
Liberals don't think so. I rest my case.
It was spoken by GW Bush who is FAR closer in ideology to liberals than conservatives.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]