study finds that brain function of liberals, conservatives differs

[nlm]

by Marlowe Hood
Sun Sep 9, 1:33 PM ET
 


PARIS (AFP) - The brain neurons of liberals and conservatives fire differently when confronted with tough choices, suggesting that some political divides may be hard-wired, according a study released Sunday.
 
Aristotle may have been more on the mark than he realised when he said that man is by nature a political animal.

Dozens of previous studies have established a strong link between political persuasion and certain personality traits.

Conservatives tend to crave order and structure in their lives, and are more consistent in the way they make decisions. Liberals, by contrast, show a higher tolerance for ambiguity and complexity, and adapt more easily to unexpected circumstances.

The affinity between political views and "cognitive style" has also been shown to be heritable, handed down from parents to children, said the study, published in the British journal Nature Neuroscience.

Intrigued by these correlations, New York University political scientist David Amodio and colleagues decided to find out if the brains of liberals and conservatives reacted differently to the same stimuli.

A group of 43 right-handed subjects were asked to perform a series of computer tests designed to evaluate their unrehearsed response to cues urging them to break a well-established routine.

"People often drive home from work on the same route, day after day, such that it becomes habitual and doesn't involve much thinking," Amodio explained by way of comparison in an e-mail.

"But occasionally there is road work, or perhaps an animal crosses the road, and you need to break out of your habitual response in order to deal with this new information."

Using electroencephalographs, which measure neuronal impulses, the researchers examined activity in a part of the brain -- the anterior cingulate cortex -- that is strongly linked with the self-regulatory process of conflict monitoring.

The match-up was unmistakable: respondents who had described themselves as liberals showed "significantly greater conflict-related neural activity" when the hypothetical situation called for an unscheduled break in routine.

Conservatives, however, were less flexible, refusing to deviate from old habits "despite signals that this ... should be changed."

Whether that is good or bad, of course, depends on one's perspective: one could interpret the results to mean that liberals are nimble-minded and conservatives rigid and stubborn.

Or one could, with equal justice, conclude that wishy-washy liberals don't stick to their guns, while conservatives and steadfast and loyal.

As to the more intriguing question of which comes first, the patterns in neuron activity or the political orientation, Amodio is reluctant to hazard a guess.

"The neural mechanisms for conflict monitoring are formed early in childhood," and are probably rooted in part in our genetic heritage, he said.

"But even if genes may provide a blueprint for more liberal or conservative orientations, they are shaped substantially by one's environment over the course of development," he added.

Obscuring causal links even more is the fact that the brain is malleable and neural functions can change as a result of new experiences.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070909/hl_afp/scienceneuroscience_070909173324

[MODU]

Interesting study.  Even more interesting is, how do you pronounce electroencephalographs, and was it designed by a liberal or a conservative?  hahaha

[nlm]

ĭ-lěk'trō-ěn-sěf'ə-lə-grāf'

[MODU]

ĭ-lěk'trō-ěn-sěf'ə-lə-grāf'

HAHAHA

[nlm]

And for more use of the electroencephalograph.......

Buddhists 'really are happier'

Scientists say they have evidence to show that Buddhists really are happier and calmer than other people.
Tests carried out in the United States reveal that areas of their brain associated with good mood and positive feelings are more active.

The findings come as another study suggests that Buddhist meditation can help to calm people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3047291.stm

[MODU]

I'm a big fan of meditation, though I think everyone has their own method.  Some prefer quite and peaceful environments, some (like me) like being outside and working in the yard, and others might enjoy a good couple of clips at a firing range. 

[Gabu]

ĭ-lěk'trō-ěn-sěf'ə-lə-grāf'

HAHAHA

And now a pronounciation guide that people without a Master's degree in English can understand:

i-lek-troh-en-SEF-uh-luh-graf

Regarding the article, this is a very interesting study, and it actually isn't very surprising once I think about it.  I've always sort of got the sense that there's a fundamental difference between how people of different political persuasions approach issues.  If that wasn't the case, and if there was no such fundamental difference, people would eventually be able to agree on an issue with enough debate.

[Verily]

ĭ-lěk'trō-ěn-sěf'ə-lə-grāf'

HAHAHA

And now a pronounciation guide that people without a Master's degree in English can understand:

i-lek-troh-en-SEF-uh-luh-graf

Regarding the article, this is a very interesting study, and it actually isn't very surprising once I think about it.  I've always sort of got the sense that there's a fundamental difference between how people of different political persuasions approach issues.  If that wasn't the case, and if there was no such fundamental difference, people would eventually be able to agree on an issue with enough debate.

ee-lek-troh-en-SEF-oh-loh-graf

[Gabu]

ĭ-lěk'trō-ěn-sěf'ə-lə-grāf'

HAHAHA

And now a pronounciation guide that people without a Master's degree in English can understand:

i-lek-troh-en-SEF-uh-luh-graf

Regarding the article, this is a very interesting study, and it actually isn't very surprising once I think about it.  I've always sort of got the sense that there's a fundamental difference between how people of different political persuasions approach issues.  If that wasn't the case, and if there was no such fundamental difference, people would eventually be able to agree on an issue with enough debate.

ee-lek-troh-en-SEF-oh-loh-graf

I looked it up, and every single dictionary I found disagreed with that pronunciation.

[MODU]

ee-lek-troh-en-SEF-oh-loh-graf

ee-lek-troh-en-SON-uhv-ah-bĭch?

[Gabu]

ee-lek-troh-en-SEF-oh-loh-graf

ee-lek-troh-en-SON-uhv-ah-bĭch?

The discussion is a study of the brain, not a study of yourself.

[MODU]

ee-lek-troh-en-SEF-oh-loh-graf

ee-lek-troh-en-SON-uhv-ah-bĭch?

The discussion is a study of the brain, not a study of yourself.

*dies laughin*

[The Duke]

Can Vorlon come back and tell  us what the margin of error is on a study with 43 subjects?

[Verily]

ĭ-lěk'trō-ěn-sěf'ə-lə-grāf'

HAHAHA

And now a pronounciation guide that people without a Master's degree in English can understand:

i-lek-troh-en-SEF-uh-luh-graf

Regarding the article, this is a very interesting study, and it actually isn't very surprising once I think about it.  I've always sort of got the sense that there's a fundamental difference between how people of different political persuasions approach issues.  If that wasn't the case, and if there was no such fundamental difference, people would eventually be able to agree on an issue with enough debate.

ee-lek-troh-en-SEF-oh-loh-graf

I looked it up, and every single dictionary I found disagreed with that pronunciation.

They're both right, but yours is the lazy pronunciation (Although really I was just doing the "correction" to continue the absurdity.) Edit: Whoops, that second o should have been a u. Now it makes more sense.

Can Vorlon come back and tell  us what the margin of error is on a study with 43 subjects?

This is a case study, not a poll.

[Gabu]

Can Vorlon come back and tell  us what the margin of error is on a study with 43 subjects?

Obviously more research is necessary, but as I said this pretty much jives with what I've thought all along, which is why I'm not contesting it very strongly.

[opebo]

Happiness is a rather amorphous concept, is it not?  I suppose most of us could agree on absence of pain, but beyond that it gets lost in subjectivity.  I am always seen as a very 'happy guy' by those who know me even though it is my private opinion that life is horrifically bad.

I would imagine heroin addicts are the happiest of all, when they can get their heroin.  I would like to try it but I fear a) needles and b) motivation.

[nlm]

Obviously more research is necessary, but as I said this pretty much jives with what I've thought all along, which is why I'm not contesting it very strongly.

It does seem to confirm what day to day life shows us on a regular basis, which is the only reason such a small case study was of any interest to me.