Brains Of Liberals And Conservatives Have Differences, According To Thirteen Peer-reviewed Scientific Studies Compiled By ProCon.org
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Whether or not you become a political conservative or liberal may be predetermined by your brain. Liberals and conservatives tend to have different brain structures, different physiological responses to stimuli, and activate different neural responses when confronted with similar situations, according to 13 peer-reviewed studies compiled by ProCon.org.
Overviews for each scientific study, and in many cases the studies themselves, are available on the ProCon.org website at http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004818.
The studies – including ones published in Science, Nature, and Current Biology – were done between 2007 and 2012. Some of the differences they found between liberals and conservatives included:
* Liberals are more open-minded and creative whereas conservatives are more orderly and better organized.
* Liberals have more tolerance to uncertainty (bigger anterior cingulate cortex), and conservatives have more sensitivity to fear (bigger right amygdala).
* Compared to liberals, conservatives are less open to new experiences and learn better from negative stimuli than positive stimuli.
ProCon.org Chairman Steven Markoff commented, "Although the studies are interesting by themselves, together they suggest 'hard wiring' in our brains inhibits interaction across the political aisles and limits the communication needed to stimulate critical thinking which is vital to better decision making."
In terms of popularity on ProCon.org's 2012 Election website, the brain differences webpage ranks behind the Presidential Candidate Match Quiz (http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004491) and the Summary Chart of Presidential Candidates' Views on Over 60 Issues (http://2012election.procon.org/view.source-summary-chart.php?topic=64).
About Us
ProCon.org (online at www.procon.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity whose mission is promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship. Information is presented on 43 different ProCon.org issue websites in subjects ranging from the 2012 presidential election, alternative energy, and medical marijuana to the death penalty, illegal immigration, and Obamacare.
ProCon.org websites are free of charge and require no registration. The websites have been referenced by over 590 media entities, cited by the governments of 11 countries (including 20 US states and seven US federal agencies), and used in over 2,900 schools in all 50 US states and 49 countries.
Media/Press Coverage of ProCon.org Includes: 60 Minutes, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BBC, Bloomberg, Business Week, CBS News, CNN, CNBC, Contra Costa Times, Dallas Morning News, The Economist, Esquire, Forbes, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, FOX News, The Guardian, Houston Chronicle, Huffington Post, Idaho Press-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, Mother Jones, NBC News, New England Journal of Medicine, New York Times, Orange County Register, The Oregonian, Orlando Sentinel, PBS, Reuters, Shreveport Times, Slate, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Wired, and many others.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/procon.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/procon_org
CONTACT: Kambiz Akhavan, +1-310-587-1407, [email protected]
SOURCE ProCon.org
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article