Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)
28. Conservatives and Liberals Have Different Brains, Studies Show
Fri Sep 28, 2012, 03:30 PM
Sep 2012

Conservatives and Liberals brains function differently!

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/09/03/conservatives-and-liberals-have-different-brains-studies-show/

Conservatives and liberals may have one less thing in common: neurology.

ProCon.org has gathered 13 peer-reviewed studies of behavioral and neurological studies and come to the conclusion that differences between Republicans and Democrats are more than skin-deep.

“Basically, the different sides have been yelling at each other for millennia, and we’re trying to figure out what could be the root cause of this,” said Steven Markoff, ProCon.org’s founder.

The studies looked at things like differences between groups’ perception of eye movement, and aversion to threatening noises. Researchers also noted that Democrats had larger anterior cingulate cortexes, which are associated with tolerance to uncertainty, while Republicans had larger right amygdalas, which are associated with sensitivity to fear.

“Everybody seems to basically agree, and these are people that have scientific backgrounds,” Markoff said of the repetition in the studies. “That to me is probably the biggest eye-opener.”

Although Markoff concluded the studies combine to mean that the different groups communicate in different ways, psychiatrist Greg Appelbaum said the studies point toward conservatives’ tendency to avoid something called self-harm, while liberals avoid collective group harm.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

He got severely shocked and hit his head...doesn't that say it all? Moonwalk Sep 2012 #1
What makes us different than them Drale Sep 2012 #2
You're missing his head injury. Now what's wrong with his wife..... sinkingfeeling Sep 2012 #3
You just can't fix stupid ThePeoplesRepublicUS Sep 2012 #4
I'd ask him point-blank: Proud Public Servant Sep 2012 #5
In the past Flashmann Sep 2012 #10
Seriously dude you need to read this post and show it to his wife tularetom Sep 2012 #6
I saw that earlier Flashmann Sep 2012 #13
its simple, he deserves the help Fresh_Start Sep 2012 #7
Did you ask him about his reasoning? Brickbat Sep 2012 #8
There really is no talking to this guy Flashmann Sep 2012 #11
Ask him what size refrigerator carton he'd like to live in next January. TheCowsCameHome Sep 2012 #9
I'm dealing with that with my mother. All she watches is FOX and all she listens to in the car- Rush HopeHoops Sep 2012 #12
I feel your pain Xyzse Sep 2012 #20
My mom's all about the money, Welfare cheats, Obama's a Muslim, and other such shit. HopeHoops Sep 2012 #24
What I do RoccoR5955 Sep 2012 #14
Yeah Flashmann Sep 2012 #16
It's called brainwashing RoccoR5955 Sep 2012 #31
Brain injuries and holding on to conservative values... socialindependocrat Sep 2012 #15
Might be something to that Flashmann Sep 2012 #17
You know that you can't talk to him. socialindependocrat Sep 2012 #19
And there you have your most logical answer to your question. jwirr Sep 2012 #21
You're only going to give yourself a headache lunatica Sep 2012 #18
Right wing scream radio and fox news do a really good job of lying to the great unwashed. ahg Sep 2012 #22
never underestimate the power of stupid people do vote against their best interests. nt Javaman Sep 2012 #23
Did you inform him of Mitt's intentions? He might be shocked! WinkyDink Sep 2012 #25
No..I can't Flashmann Sep 2012 #29
I have friends like that. He is on disability upaloopa Sep 2012 #26
He thinks Mitt will only take away welfare and food stamps louis-t Sep 2012 #27
Conservatives and Liberals Have Different Brains, Studies Show RKP5637 Sep 2012 #28
Brain damage explains lots of RWers; so does mental illness. LeftinOH Sep 2012 #30
Brain damage explains lots Flashmann Sep 2012 #32
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Please help me see what I...»Reply #28