Left and Right Wing Brains?

[sjastro]

I will never understand how individuals can show blind faith in Trump and how this individual has a chance of winning the election which would have been impossible a decade ago given his record for inappropriate behaviour.

There may be a biological reason for this.
PopSci article:- Political orientation could be predicted by differences in brain activation and synchronization
Peer reviewed article:- Deeper Than You Think: Partisanship-Dependent Brain Responses in Early Sensory and Motor Brain Regions

 

[Michie]

Thank you for posting these articles. I will be reading these tonight.

 

[AlexB23]

I will never understand how individuals can show blind faith in Trump and how this individual has a chance of winning the election which would have been impossible a decade ago given his record for inappropriate behaviour.

There may be a biological reason for this.
PopSci article:- Political orientation could be predicted by differences in brain activation and synchronization
Peer reviewed article:- Deeper Than You Think: Partisanship-Dependent Brain Responses in Early Sensory and Motor Brain Regions

What about moderates? Any studies on moderates who are neither left or right wing? People always seem to forget about the moderates.

 

[Michie]

I will never understand how individuals can show blind faith in Trump and how this individual has a chance of winning the election which would have been impossible a decade ago given his record for inappropriate behaviour.

There may be a biological reason for this.
PopSci article:- Political orientation could be predicted by differences in brain activation and synchronization
Peer reviewed article:- Deeper Than You Think: Partisanship-Dependent Brain Responses in Early Sensory and Motor Brain Regions

From the first article:

Interestingly, the researchers found that such partisanship-dependent differences in brain synchronization was not limited to "higher" areas of the brain, associated with interpretation and abstract thinking, as was previously found. Rather, these differences occurred already in regions responsible for sight, hearing and even touch.

So are we researching partisanship?

 

[Michie]

Second article:

Political partisanship influences one's choices, perception, and understanding of information (Cohen, 2003; Jost and Amodio, 2003; Carney et al., 2008; Frenda et al., 2013; Bolsen et al., 2014; Kraft et al., 2015; Jost et al., 2018; van Bavel and Pereira, 2018). These behavioral partisan-based differences were further borne out in neuroimaging studies. Previous studies found political-based differences in brain responses, as well as in the volume of specific regions (Jost and Amodio, 2003). For example, liberalism was associated with increased anterior cingulate (ACC) volume, and conservatism with increased amygdala volume (Kanai et al., 2011). These extend previous neurocognitive findings about the high degree of conflict-monitoring among liberals, which is associated with increased ACC activation (Amodio et al., 2007), and conservatives' sensitivity to threatening situations and facial expressions, which was reflected by emotional processing in areas, such as the amygdala (Jost et al., 2003; Vigil, 2010). Differences such as these enabled prediction of political orientation based on the neural response, whether to disgusting images (Ahn et al., 2014), or in a risk-taking task (Schreiber et al., 2013).
**********************
It is evident that the political sphere has become highly polarized in recent years (Leonard et al., 2021; Mason, 2015). Our finding of partisanship-dependent differences in activation and synchronization already in primary sensory and motor regions may contribute to our understanding of how such differences come about. In this study, we focused on political views, but our results could be relevant to any instance of partisanship. In this, we argue that these results can help us better understand the neural basis of group-based interpretive perspectives, and therefore potentially address multiple psychological and social challenges facing society.

Meh… not very informative really.

But thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading it anyway.

 

[AV1611VET]

First you say this:

I will never understand how individuals can show blind faith in Trump and how this individual has a chance of winning the election which would have been impossible a decade ago given his record for inappropriate behaviour.

Then you say this:

There may be a biological reason for this.
PopSci article:- Political orientation could be predicted by differences in brain activation and synchronization
Peer reviewed article:- Deeper Than You Think: Partisanship-Dependent Brain Responses in Early Sensory and Motor Brain Regions

Which is it?

Do you understand, or not?

 

[Mark Quayle]

I will never understand how individuals can show blind faith in Trump and how this individual has a chance of winning the election which would have been impossible a decade ago given his record for inappropriate behaviour.

There may be a biological reason for this.
PopSci article:- Political orientation could be predicted by differences in brain activation and synchronization
Peer reviewed article:- Deeper Than You Think: Partisanship-Dependent Brain Responses in Early Sensory and Motor Brain Regions

Decades ago, he probably wouldn't have won the primaries, but given the choice, conservatives pretty much always vote for the less liberal candidate. We vote for conservative constitutional results, or more to the point, against those who consider the constitution a nuisance. In spite of his bombastic self-importance and bar-room delivery he is far the better choice for conservatism and the country, and would have been, decades ago.

What I don't understand is why some self-styled 'conservatives' vote for a candidate merely because he is black, or she is a woman. I don't understand 'conservatives' who vote according to political correctness and shaming by the left.

 

[sjastro]

Second article:

Political partisanship influences one's choices, perception, and understanding of information (Cohen, 2003; Jost and Amodio, 2003; Carney et al., 2008; Frenda et al., 2013; Bolsen et al., 2014; Kraft et al., 2015; Jost et al., 2018; van Bavel and Pereira, 2018). These behavioral partisan-based differences were further borne out in neuroimaging studies. Previous studies found political-based differences in brain responses, as well as in the volume of specific regions (Jost and Amodio, 2003). For example, liberalism was associated with increased anterior cingulate (ACC) volume, and conservatism with increased amygdala volume (Kanai et al., 2011). These extend previous neurocognitive findings about the high degree of conflict-monitoring among liberals, which is associated with increased ACC activation (Amodio et al., 2007), and conservatives' sensitivity to threatening situations and facial expressions, which was reflected by emotional processing in areas, such as the amygdala (Jost et al., 2003; Vigil, 2010). Differences such as these enabled prediction of political orientation based on the neural response, whether to disgusting images (Ahn et al., 2014), or in a risk-taking task (Schreiber et al., 2013).
**********************
It is evident that the political sphere has become highly polarized in recent years (Leonard et al., 2021; Mason, 2015). Our finding of partisanship-dependent differences in activation and synchronization already in primary sensory and motor regions may contribute to our understanding of how such differences come about. In this study, we focused on political views, but our results could be relevant to any instance of partisanship. In this, we argue that these results can help us better understand the neural basis of group-based interpretive perspectives, and therefore potentially address multiple psychological and social challenges facing society.

Meh… not very informative really.

But thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading it anyway.

These type of studies involve the correlation vs causation argument made even more complicated as there is an overlap between the social sciences (how people react to stimuli) and the physical sciences (MRI scans as a result of the stimuli).
What the studies indicate there may a correlation between the brain activation patterns with people of very opposite political views but it doesn’t establish causation that people’s brains are hard wired to be left or right wing. (Which is why a put a question mark in the thread title.)

 

[sjastro]

What about moderates? Any studies on moderates who are neither left or right wing? People always seem to forget about the moderates.

I suspect people with polar political opinions were required so their MRI scans could be differentiated when subjected to stimuli.
Moderates would more than likely give mixed results making it impossible to establish any correlation.

 

[AV1611VET]

I suspect people with polar political opinions were required so their MRI scans could be differentiated when subjected to stimuli.
Moderates would more than likely give mixed results making it impossible to establish any correlation.

Are we gonna get that Poe smiley anytime soon?

 

[AlexB23]

I suspect people with polar political opinions were required so their MRI scans could be differentiated when subjected to stimuli.
Moderates would more than likely give mixed results making it impossible to establish any correlation.

Haha, moderates are a mixed bag of people, that is for sure. It would be nice if the scientists tested three groups of people: Liberals, Moderates, and Conservatives.

Would be nice to see how the political spectrum could be plotted out on an MRI. Biology is my weak point though, astronomy and physics are a bit easier to understand.

 

[NBB]

Science has accomplished so much, but today they have no problem bending it in favour of ideologies.
Things like, the 'top climate scientists' say we will need to eat bugs, to avoid having so much cows that are producing climate change gas.
Really? cows were designed to be with us by God, these people are supposed to be smart.

 

[sjastro]

Decades ago, he probably wouldn't have won the primaries, but given the choice, conservatives pretty much always vote for the less liberal candidate. We vote for conservative constitutional results, or more to the point, against those who consider the constitution a nuisance. In spite of his bombastic self-importance and bar-room delivery he is far the better choice for conservatism and the country, and would have been, decades ago.

What I don't understand is why some self-styled 'conservatives' vote for a candidate merely because he is black, or she is a woman. I don't understand 'conservatives' who vote according to political correctness and shaming by the left.

I don’t pretend to be an expert on politics of your country but wasn’t it until relatively recent times the Republicans was a centre-right party and the Democrats centre-left where there was some overlap and bipartisan politics was still possible?

With the slide of the Republicans further to the right and its appeal to conservative Christians particularly evangelicals, isn’t Trump’s popularity even more perplexing amongst evangelicals given he was convicted of sexual abuse and his comments on groping women?
To me it appears that many Republican politicians do not see Trump as a choice for conservatism but fear a backlash from their constituents if they oppose him.

 

[AV1611VET]

Science has accomplished so much, but today they have no problem bending it in favour of ideologies.
Things like, the 'top climate scientists' say we will need to eat bugs, to avoid having so much cows that are producing climate change gas.
Really? cows were designed to be with us by God, these people are supposed to be smart.

The OP is very intelligent, in my opinion.

But I'm noticing, in this case, a lack of charts, graphs, and long formulas that usually accompany his points.

 

[AlexB23]

I don’t pretend to be an expert on politics of your country but wasn’t it until relatively recent times the Republicans was a centre-right party and the Democrats centre-left were there was some overlap and bipartisan politics was still possible?

With the slide of the Republicans further to the right and its appeal to conservative Christians particularly evangelicals, isn’t Trump’s popularity even more perplexing amongst evangelicals given he was convicted of sexual abuse and his comments on groping women?
To me it appears that many Republican politicians do not see Trump as a choice for conservatism but fear a backlash from their constituents if they oppose him.

Yep, there was a time where both parties were closer to the center. That time was the 1970s, a few decades before I was even on this Earth. The Republican platform discussed environmental care for instance.

Here is the 1972 platform for the Republicans:

Republican Party Platform of 1972 | The American Presidency Project

www.presidency.ucsb.edu

And for the Democrats:

1972 Democratic Party Platform | The American Presidency Project

www.presidency.ucsb.edu

 

[AlexB23]

The OP is very intelligent, in my opinion.

But I'm noticing, in this case, a lack of charts, graphs, and long formulas that usually accompany his points.

Here are the graphs, from the second article. I am not that good at reading MRI graphs, but maybe our guy @sjastro can interpret.

 

[Richard T]

I will never understand how individuals can show blind faith in Trump and how this individual has a chance of winning the election which would have been impossible a decade ago given his record for inappropriate behaviour.

There may be a biological reason for this.
PopSci article:- Political orientation could be predicted by differences in brain activation and synchronization
Peer reviewed article:- Deeper Than You Think: Partisanship-Dependent Brain Responses in Early Sensory and Motor Brain Regions

Thanks for the post and links. I read a good part of the peer-reviewed article. I did not see where they thought the predictive capacity of brain scans was hereditary. Perhaps I missed this?

Predicting political orientation is different from how one acquires it. This is termed "political socialization." "People develop their political values, beliefs, and orientations through interactions with agents of socialization. Agents include parents, teachers, friends, coworkers, military colleagues, church associates, club members, sports-team competitors, and media (Dawson & Prewitt, 1969). The political socialization process in the United States is mostly haphazard, informal, and random." 6.2 Political Socialization – American Government and Politics in the Information Age

I am left wondering if perhaps the brain and nerves create pathways similar to stimuli that triggers addicts?

 

[Mark Quayle]

I don’t pretend to be an expert on politics of your country but wasn’t it until relatively recent times the Republicans was a centre-right party and the Democrats centre-left where there was some overlap and bipartisan politics was still possible?

With the slide of the Republicans further to the right and its appeal to conservative Christians particularly evangelicals, isn’t Trump’s popularity even more perplexing amongst evangelicals given he was convicted of sexual abuse and his comments on groping women?
To me it appears that many Republican politicians do not see Trump as a choice for conservatism but fear a backlash from their constituents if they oppose him.

I do know that, by far and large, those the media interviews/quotes, touting them as "conservative", that do oppose him are not actually conservatives. Funny thing is, Trump himself is not a conservative ideologue, but simply a practical man. Turns out, much of conservatism is very practical.

 

[sjastro]

Here are the graphs, from the second article. I am not that good at reading MRI graphs, but maybe our guy @sjastro can interpret.

View attachment 356192

View attachment 356193

The information is from a sample size of 34 individuals holding either very right-wing or left-wing views.

They provided feedback on how they responded to the following movie clips.
(a) A neutral clip.
(b) A right-wing political ad (RWC),
(c) A right-wing political speech (RWS).
(d) A left-wing political ad (LWC)
(e) A left-wing speech (LWS).

The bar plots in blue and red compare the responses of extreme left-wing (blue) vs. extreme right-wing (red) participants.
For the neutral clip there was a fairly equal response from both groups.
For right-wing content (RWC and RWS), right-wing participants showed higher levels of agreement, interest, and emotional engagement.
Similarly, for left-wing content (LWC and LWS), left-wing participants exhibited significantly greater emotional engagement and interest.

Their brains were also MRI scanned when watching the movie clips where various regions for brain activity were examined:
Yellow regions: Common brain activity for both groups.
Red regions: Significant brain activity primarily in right-wing participants.
Blue regions: Significant brain activity primarily in left-wing participants.

The responses to the questions and the brain activities both groups shows correlation.
Higher subjective interest and engagement correspond to increased brain activity in areas associated with emotion and cognition.
Ideological content triggered stronger and more extensive brain responses according to one’s political views both subjectively and objectively.

 

[AlexB23]

The information is from a sample size of 34 individuals holding either very right-wing or left-wing views.

They provided feedback on how they responded to the following movie clips.
(a) A neutral clip.
(b) A right-wing political ad (RWC),
(c) A right-wing political speech (RWS).
(d) A left-wing political ad (LWC)
(e) A left-wing speech (LWS).

The bar plots in blue and red compare the responses of extreme left-wing (blue) vs. extreme right-wing (red) participants.
For the neutral clip there was a fairly equal response from both groups.
For right-wing content (RWC and RWS), right-wing participants showed higher levels of agreement, interest, and emotional engagement.
Similarly, for left-wing content (LWC and LWS), left-wing participants exhibited significantly greater emotional engagement and interest.

Their brains were also MRI scanned when watching the movie clips where various regions for brain activity were examined:
Yellow regions: Common brain activity for both groups.
Red regions: Significant brain activity primarily in right-wing participants.
Blue regions: Significant brain activity primarily in left-wing participants.

The responses to the questions and the brain activities both groups shows correlation.
Higher subjective interest and engagement correspond to increased brain activity in areas associated with emotion and cognition.
Ideological content triggered stronger and more extensive brain responses according to one’s political views both subjectively and objectively.

Interesting stuff, would the same effect apply if someone liked chocolate ice cream and saw a video of chocolate ice cream being made, while another group who prefers vanilla watches that video clip and vice versa?