Study: Conservatives Have Larger 'Fear Centers' in Their Brains

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Political opinions are considered choices, and in Western democracies the right to choose one's opinions -- freedom of conscience -- is considered sacrosanct.

But recent studies suggest that our brains and genes may be a major determining factor in the views we hold.

A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives' brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas are responsible for fear and other "primitive" emotions. At the same time, conservatives' brains were also found to have a smaller anterior cingulate -- the part of the brain responsible for courage and optimism.

If the study is confirmed, it could give us the first medical explanation for why conservatives tend to be more receptive to threats of terrorism, for example, than liberals. And it may help to explain why conservatives like to plan based on the worst-case scenario, while liberals tend towards rosier outlooks.

"It is very significant because it does suggest there is something about political attitudes that are either encoded in our brain structure through our experience or that our brain structure in some way determines or results in our political attitudes," Geraint Rees, the neurologist who carried out the study, told the media.

http://www.alternet....n_their_brains/

[Jenn! 918]

A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives' brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas are responsible for fear and other "primitive" emotions. At the same time, conservatives' brains were also found to have a smaller anterior cingulate -- the part of the brain responsible for courage and optimism.

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OK so this means being conservative and liberal are traits we are born with, like (allegedly) being gay.

Sooooo... we should treat RWNs with the same amount of reverence we treat gays.

[LaL 418]

hmm. heavy facebook users may also have larger amygdalas. amygdalas do a lot aparently!

Heavy Facebook users may have weighty amygdalas

By Yun Xie | Last updated 3 days ago The size of your amygdala might indicate how large and complex your social network is. Amygdala volume has been connected to social network and behavior in past research, as scientists have found that nonhuman primate species with larger social groups tend to have greater amygdala volumes. Kevin Bickart and his coauthors took the next logical step and examined how amygdala volume varies in humans with different social networks. Their results appear in a recent issue of Nature Neuroscience.

The researchers measured two social network factors in 58 adults. First, they calculated the size of a participant's network, which is simply the total number of people that are in regular contact with the participant. Second, they measured the network's complexity, based on how many different groups a participant's contacts can be divided into. The authors then examined how well those two factors correlated with the size of a participant's amygdala and hippocampus. The hippocampus served as a negative control, as it should not vary based on social networks.

Linear regression revealed a positive correlation in amygdala size with both social network size and complexity. This effect showed no lateralization, meaning both left and right amygdala volumes followed this relationship. In addition, the effect is relatively specific, as other social factors like life satisfaction and perceived social support failed to correlate with amygdala volume.

Social network size and complexity did not significantly correspond with the size of the hippocampus or other subcortical areas. The authors did find that three regions in the cerebral cortex of the brain (caudal inferior temporal sulcus, caudal superior frontal gyrus, and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex) might correlate with social networks. They propose that those regions might have evolved along with amygdala to deal with the complexities of growing social circles.

This is one of the first publications that demonstrates a relationship between amygdala volume and social networks in humans. It would be fascinating to determine if a cause and effect relationship can be established. Are certain people born with larger amygdala and therefore create bigger social networks, or does the amygdala grow as we gain more friends and foes?

http://arstechnica.c...ial-network.ars

Edited December 30, 2010 by LaL

[Ban Hammer 13,401]

OK so this means being conservative and liberal are traits we are born with, like (allegedly) being gay.

Sooooo... we should treat RWNs with the same amount of reverence we treat gays.

conservatives are now a protected group and you can't make fun of them. thank you steven!

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conservatives are now a protected group and you can't make fun of them. thank you steven!

You get to have your own bathrooms, too.

[Ban Hammer 13,401]

You get to have your own bathrooms, too.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You get to have your own bathrooms, too.

I think I just heard Larry Craig let out a squeal of excitement.

[^_^ 5,021]

I think I just heard Larry Craig let out a squeal of excitement.

[Ban Hammer 13,401]

I think I just heard Larry Craig let out a squeal of excitement.

will it be tapping or no tapping?

[Ban Hammer 13,401]

in other news, once again liberals are known for having a smaller one.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives' brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas are responsible for fear and other "primitive" emotions. At the same time, conservatives' brains were also found to have a smaller anterior cingulate -- the part of the brain responsible for courage and optimism.

So, short on courage and large on fears. In other words, Conservatives are spineless wuzzies. Excellent!

[Fandango 1,439]

A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives' brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas are responsible for fear and other "primitive" emotions. At the same time, conservatives' brains were also found to have a smaller anterior cingulate -- the part of the brain responsible for courage and optimism.

It's great to be optimistic when you're spending 'someone else's money'

[tmma 467]

UK Conservatives? That's a whole different species to US Conservatives.

edit-margaret thatcher was a UK Conservative--she had larger stones than just about any man EVER! The study is bull- plus-there is no consensus among bodies of scientists, Steven.

Edited December 30, 2010 by tmma

[Pooky 3,807]

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Well, that and the monsters under the bed, because ...