Do you think that your political views are based on your values? Do you affiliate yourself with a particular political party based on how closely their platform aligns with your values? Not so fast. There is a study (there is a study for just about everything) that claims your political leanings might have something to do with your brain.
I love studies of the brain. So let’s look at what this one has to say about your brain and the way you vote.
First, what motivated the study? Based on prior psychological reports connecting personality traits to political preferences – that conservatives are more sensitive to threat or anxiety in the face of uncertainty and that liberals are more open to new experiences – Ryota Kanai of the University College London and his team suspected that these personality differences would show up in the brain.
Structural Differences Found in the Brains of Conservatives and Liberals
Indeed, the brain study did find structural differences in the brains of conservatives and liberals.
People who tend to identify themselves as conservatives have larger amygdalas – the part of the brain that processes memory and emotional reactions. It also process violations to personal space. People with larger amygdalas tend to have larger and more complex social networks and the ability to make accurate social judgments about other person’s faces. The bottom line is that the larger your amaygdala, the greater your ability to recognize a threat.
People who tend to identify themselves as liberals have larger anterior cingulate cortexes – the part of the brain related to autonomic functions, like blood pressure and heart rate, and rational cognitive functions, such as reward anticipation, decision-making, empathy, and emotion. This part of the brain works on early learning and problem-solving. Here, it seems the bottom line is that the larger your anterior cingulate cortex, the greater your ability for coping with conflicting information.
Does Your Brain Shape You or Do You Shape Your Brain?
So, it might be a question of what came first – as in the age-old question – the chicken or the egg? Is your brain structure affecting your personality – or – is your personality shaping your brain structure? This isn’t entirely clear. It is possible that your brain structure is not set early in life, but is shaped and changed by your experiences. That means, your political preference might be shaped by your brain structure or it might be shaping your brain structure.
Personally, I have had shifting political views and preferences throughout my lifetime. So, either my brain structure has been affecting my choices or it has been changing as a result of my experiences. Either way, currently, I am not registered with either political party, and actually I prefer not to discuss politics online. But, a brain study is always interesting to me.
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© Robin Tjernagel
Crime and Literature
Real Life and Life Imagined
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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110407121337.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amagdyla
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_cingulate_cortex
Photo in the Public Domain: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Crime and Literature 
Interesting study, Robin.
Thanks Patti.
Stimulating topic.
I find myself skeptical of such studies. There’s possibly many factors that could cause the outcome to be in error. Which is ok, if this possibility is pointed out, clearly, and reflected throughout the work as a chance. (I’m trying to figure out which part of my brain might be the abdicate for such caution and clarification). lol
This study, being the sequel to another study, on which it apparently rests and from which it then springs, could be fraught with errant testing and misleading data, that we are not aware of, within its procession.
You’re right, there might be a question, here, and for me, especially if the results prove inconclusive or contradictory to the casual reader or student of the work.
If we find that perhaps, without seeing a scan of our own brains, both profiles fit us to some extent, then maybe its like fortune telling, whereas, we will likely find something that seems to be identical to our own persona, and even preferences politically, or opinions right or left, and as well, overlook other features of ourselves and our histories, leading us to believe we’re star crossed and just got a big old brain. Just off the top of my big old head.
It is interesting to note that it is reportedly admitted by Ryota that the data does not determine whether the regions play a causal role in the formation of political attitudes, and also could be noted that there is a bit of debate ongoing within the Wiki article that covers this topic. Well, that’s something…and a bit of a relief, I say with a little laugh.
I guess, somewhere in my brain rests a cynical matter, as I tend to wonder about the predisposition and possible ulterior motive of studies, as this one, and how that may play a role in its outcome.
Neat find, Robin. I also find myself drawn to like topics, sometimes. And sometimes, I just wanna rest my brain and relax to a favorite sitcom and eat.
( But first, Ive got some stink bugs to tend to, ugh! )
I think it is fair to be skeptical of such studies, but I think the findings were somewhat open-ended, so I don’t find too much fault with it. As for motives – I don’t know if there was an ulterior motive, or just a bunch of smart science guys with nothing better to do than run brain scans for some fun (although I am sure they took it quite seriously).
Brain studies always fascinate me. It is the one part of our body that we are still learning about and remains a bit of a mystery. Maybe we can get someone to scan our brains and see if they can make any conclusions about our personalities. Haha.
Stink bugs? YIKES. I am still hiding out inside until the first frost rids my yard of the mosquitos. Except for the city, it seems everywhere I have lived has some sort of bug issue.
Good one on ‘…nothing better to do…’. Science guys, salespeople with doctorates granted another day to test stuff and come up with stuff to test and make salable. lol Yeh, that’s what I learned from Big Bang Theory.
Speaking science. I was watching a program that discussed the empty space between even the smallest particles science can find. The statement was that there is more empty space than space with matter.
I was thinking that maybe thats where the ‘spirit’ realm exists, that is, assuming that there is a spirit or spirits.
Looking at it with a reference to possible Biblical suggestions of such a dimension, if you will, certain texts were brought to mind.
It is written in Genesis that earth was formless and that the Spirit hovered over the waters. That could mean over every tiniest particle where there is empty void.
In Acts 17, during Paul’s dissertation to the philosophers and religious in Athens, he states that God is not far from any of us, and that, in Him we move and have our being. This apparent quick study in metaphysics, for the Epicureans and Stoics, could also seem to indicate that there is a realm in which our realm exists.
I’d bet there’s other like references. How’d you like to be the science guy to test that? I mean, seeing science already tends to admit that the space exists. Even better to do? lol
Empty space between the smallest particles of matter?? Well, after a little research, it seems that the so-called ‘normal’ matter that we know and recognize only makes up about 5% of the Universe. There are several theories, but it seems that the following composition has been proposed by scientists: ~70% dark energy, ~25% dark matter, and ~5% normal matter. There are theories about what makes up the dark energy and dark matter, but I don’t think one of them suggested the spirit world. (I found that info on NASA’s Science website.)
So much can be learned from watching Sitcoms 🙂
And, yep, those are ‘theories’. I’ve heard those before, also.
I do not believe those were discussed in the program I saw, or perhaps, not in that way, as the program was making a point of the solidity of what we see is an illusion to the reality, they suggested, as being made of emptiness, primarily.
It could be that Im applying ‘some’ science to support the ideas of a ‘spirit realm theory’, I’ll call it (just to identify my considerations), but they, any science and any biblical interpretation, should support each other if both are to be considered factual.
Its likely we could find a study to advocate any position of either discipline.
No, I wouldn’t suppose NASA would be in the business of proposing spirit worlds. That might not be good politics, even for brainiacs.
Thanks for doing the extra home work, though, the space academy may not be as reliable as the imagination of the writers for The Big Bang Theory. lol
Big bang theory, tiniest of particles, quantum physics, NASA and brain studies – oh my! And I thought our political preferences were social and economic in nature…what a simpleton I am…..
It is an interesting study, Robin. And I prefer brain studies to talking politics on-line too. Seems we have a hard time respecting our right to think differently. Too bad.
Me too, Barb, but then, arent we all?
I like what Burt Reynolds says to Sally Field in Smokey and the Bandit. “When you tell somebody somethin’, it depends on what part of the United States you’re standin’ in… as to just how dumb you are.”
And the Swami in HEAD, “We were speaking of belief; beliefs and conditioning. All belief possibly could be said to be the result of some conditioning. Thus, the study of history is simply the study of one system of beliefs deposing another..But then, why should anyone listen to me? Why should I speak, since I know nothing? ”
But maybe the Monkees nicely sum up our collective experience, in the same film, saying, Micky to David: “Stay down, dummy.” Mike to Micky: “You are the dummy, dummy.” Peter to Micky: “Micky! I’m the dummy, Micky. I’m always the dummy.”
Micky to Pete: “You’re right, Pete. You’re always the dummy. I forgot. I’m sorry.”
But to bring it back a bit to respect and politics, ladies and gentlemen, Rodney Dangerfield, “I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest.”
You’re right, it is “too bad”. But it makes for some good comedy. lol
Barb, I have to agree that I thought our political preferences, plus the why behind how we vote, was based on social and economic factors. I would even go so far as to consider personality as a factor. But, brain structure? Well, that was news to me.
As for respecting differences, I also agree with you. But we do not live in a perfect world, and sometimes people do disrespect one another. Around the anniversary of 9/11, I was listening to a radio program on NPR (I don’t remember which one). One of the guests made a comment about how people need to stop being so easily offended, when they feel they have been disrespected. Honestly, people have a lot more in common with one another, than the division their political differences sometimes create.
I’m not sure how much credence I would put in this study / data, but it is fascinating. And even more so, in my opinion, your chicken and the egg questions – relative to any number of innate characteristics of the individual, versus what they experience (and learn from it) throughout life.
Then again, perhaps there is neuroscience on those who are more able to learn from their experience?
If there is, I will write a post about it 🙂