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Red brain, blue brain: evaluative processes differ in Democrats and Republicans.
Darren Schreiber1, Greg Fonzo, Alan N Simmons
1Department of Politics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom. darren.schreiber@gmail.com
Plos One
|February 19, 2013
Summary
Liberals and conservatives show distinct brain activity patterns during risk-taking tasks. These differences in neural function, particularly in the amygdala and insula, may underlie political divides.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Political Science
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Political attitudes and beliefs are influenced by biological factors.
- Previous research indicates structural brain differences between liberals and conservatives.
- Liberals show greater gray matter in the anterior cingulate cortex; conservatives in the amygdala.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional brain differences between liberals and conservatives.
- To explore how these differences manifest during a risk-taking task.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity.
- 82 subjects performed a risk-taking task.
- Voter records were used to categorize subjects as Democrats (liberals) or Republicans (conservatives).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in risk-taking behavior was observed between Democrats and Republicans.
- Democrats exhibited greater activity in the left insula.
- Republicans showed greater activity in the right amygdala.
Conclusions:
- Liberals and conservatives engage different cognitive processes when considering risk.
- Brain activity in the amygdala and insula can predict partisanship.
- Findings support the notion that conservatives exhibit greater sensitivity to threatening stimuli.
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