RISE UP AND DONATE!
Posted on 11/03/2012 8:30:57 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
With the U.S. presidential election just days away, new research from the University of South Carolina provides fresh evidence that choosing a candidate may depend more on our biological make-up than a careful analysis of issues.
That's because the brains of self-identified Democrats and Republicans are hard-wired differently and may be naturally inclined to hold varying, if not opposing, perceptions and values. The USC study, which analyzed MRI scans of 24 USC students, builds on existing research in the emerging field of political neuroscience.
"The differences are significant and real," said lead researcher Roger D. Newman-Norlund, an assistant professor of exercise science in the Arnold School of Public Health and the director of USC's new Brain Simulation Laboratory.
The study focused on the mirror neuron system, a network of brain areas linked to a host of social and emotional abilities. After declaring their political affiliation, The subjects were given questionnaires designed to gauge their attitudes on a range of select political issues. Next, they were given "resting state" MRIs which made it possible to analyze the strength of connections within the mirror neuron system in both the left and right hemispheres of their brains; specifically the inferior frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus.
The results found more neural activity in areas believed to be linked with broad social connectedness in Democrats (friends, the world at-large) and more activity in areas linked with tight social connectedness in the Republicans (family, country). In some ways the study confirms a stereotype about members of the two parties—Democrats tend to be more global and Republicans more America-centric—but it actually runs counter to other recent research indicating Democrats enjoyed a virtual lock on caring for others.
"The results were a little surprising," Newman-Norlund said. "This shows the picture is more complicated. One possible explanation for our results is that Democrats and Republicans process social connectedness in a fudamentally different manner."
While political neuroscience and study is still largely in its infancy, the implications for future races could be big as politicians and campaign strategists learn how to exploit brain differences to make more effective, biologically targeted appeals to voters.
The research also suggests that maintaining an open mind about political issues may be easier said than done. In fact, bridging partisan divides and acting contrary to ideological preferences likely requires going against deeply ingrained biological tendencies. And while there is evidence that mirror neuron connections can change over time, it's not something that happens overnight, Newman-Norlund said.
"The (brain) differences could be a result of genetics, experiences, or a combination of both," he said. "It takes a lot of effort to see the other side and we're not going to wake up one day and all start getting along."
Understanding the differences and their origins, however, is a step in the right direction, he said.
“Republican brain was more oriented to tribal rules”
One can sense the liberal perjoritive in that statement. Tribalism is primitive while universal acceptance with out preconceptions is advanced. Yet all I have to do is to read twitter messages about how many ‘cracka asses are gong to be messed up” if they vote for Romney and it tells me just what sorts of folks are really living by “tribal rules”.
Now certain groups may indeed live by “tribal rules”...Jewish folks are very insular, often times for their own saftey. Strong Christians live by tribal rules, yet Christ has made it easy to join “the tribe”...so easy in fact much of the world choaks on that reality.
These researchers may be getting the “tribalism” thingy all wrong. I think all folks behave tribally, but studies may need to be geared towards how easily “tribes” of liberal or conservative mindsets may allow folks to join their particular groups and what sorts of social burdens are placed on the members in maintaining a continuing relationship with their “tribe”!
Have you not noticed all the cute kitty threads on FR?
Liberals love humanity—it’s humans they can’t stand.
LOL gleeaikin. LOL
A rational mind recognizes both the good and the bad consequences of actions, no matter how well intended.
The Democrat mind does not.
This is such utter hogwash. Simple observation reveals that people change their viewpoints due to life experiences, personal observations, education, etc. throughout their lives.
If our brains were hard-wired in one ideological direction or another, people would rigidly maintain the same viewpoints they were born with. If the findings of this study were true, you wouldn't have any such thing as an ex-liberal Democrat.
I myself am living proof that this study is a bunch of ridiculous pseudo-science.
I believe it has a lot to do with natural selection, Birds of a Feather, genetic attraction.. This results in perpetuation of symptoms, and inbreeding dominance.. Flawed + Flawed= Liberal.. See, simple!
The results are predictable, and self perpetuating.. Easy!
Also one of my theories, has as an example, When confronted with conflect, a Liberal looks for an easy escape route to hide from the problem, and Conservatives look for a path forward to a solution.. HA!
But isn’t trying to change someone’s political orientation tantamount to a “hate crime” ?
Wouldn’t such a comparative study have to involve two brains, instead of one brain and an empty petrie dish?
I think certain members of my family are still trying to locate the dastardly Republicans who kidnapped and brainwashed me so long ago. They want to have them arrested and prosecuted .. LOL
Democrats = takers; Republicans = makers
Democrats = glass half empty; Republicans = glass half full
The list could go on and on ...
Lefties are not human :).
What the ...? Do they really want to go there? Because they are in effect admitting that the brain and its cognitive functions can be affected by genetics-they can’t say it’s possible in one area and not in another. Do they understand that, or will they, as leftists do, ignore that inconvenient fact?
Republicans have working brains. Dimwits are brain dead.
Just as reasonable as believing that the bumps on your skull determine your intelligence and personality.
In seriousness, I would have to say that the main scientist involved in this research has his sun in Virgo 17 degrees square his moon in Scorpio 15 degrees, producing severe lapses in rationality, which is more pronounced with the Sun-Venus conjunction currently taking place in Sagittarius. Not to mention the man’s Pluto problem in Taurus.
republicans THINK, RATS feel...
This is similar to research from 2 years ago about a liberal gene.
See: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101027161452.htm
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