Brain thickness determines political leaning: study

[proReality]

December 29, 2010 - 8:09AM

Neuroscientists are examining whether political allegiances are hard-wired into people after finding evidence that the brains of conservatives are a different shape to those of left-wingers.
Scans of 90 students' brains at University College London (UCL) uncovered a "strong correlation" between the thickness of two particular areas of grey matter and an individual's views.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/world/science/brain-thickness-determines-political-leaning-study-20101229-199hk.html




So, if someone calls you thick-headed, take it as a compliment.




Edited to add a word.

[rfranklin]

1. right wingers claim to be more rational yet the study shows...

"Self-proclaimed right-wingers had a more pronounced amygdala - a primitive part of the brain associated with emotion"

[MisterP]

4. more to the point, it handles spur-of-the-moment emotional reactions

and I thought the brain-studying community stopped using the term "primitive" a few decades ago

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Conservatives are thick headed?

Always thought so.

[Kurovski]

5. It's the other way around.

[KansDem]

12. David McCallum is a leftist! DAVID MCCALLUM IS A LEFTIST!!!

(David McCallum in "The Sixth Finger" episode of The Outer Limits)

[Kurovski]

14. Now that was a fine, scientifical experiment right there.

Ironically, it's how they created Karl Rove.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. Which implies that only genocide will get us out of this mess.

[KittyWampus]

17. No, conditioning those who haven't developed their higher brain functions.

One very important way of doing this is comedy.

[gmoney]

6. Video from the study

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M68GeL8PafE

[DefenseLawyer]

7. Damn! Does this mean our re-education camps are futile??? n/t

[BlueJazz]

8. Democrat brain on Top. Republican brain on bottom.

[the redcoat]

9. Republican brains are

delicious.

[3waygeek]

11. But they're really expensive...

because you have to kill so many Republicans to get a pound of brain.

[Contrary1]

10. I concur.

"The amygdala is a part of the brain which is very old and very ancient and thought to be very primitive and to do with the detection of emotions. The right amygdala was larger in those people who described themselves as conservative...."

[KansDem]

13. The Republican's Dilemma

[malaise]

15. Love your signature line

:hi:

[KansDem]

21. Thanks!

I'm just sorry it's true...:(

:hi:

[KittyWampus]

16. I've posted about this ever since joining DU. Humans must develop their Higher Self or are ruled by

their Reptilian brain.

This is hardly new.

[wiggs]

18. So McConnell actually IS a reptile of some sort? nt

[Matariki]

19. As long as this isn't used to artificially create political persuasions.

Left leaning progressive? We have a drug for that...

:tinfoilhat:

[southernyankeebelle]

20. I don't believe it because sometimes people change in their thinking. Now

I was a moderate and know am a social democrat.