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Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain

By Daniel Tencer
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 -- 5:43 pm

humanbraincommons Study: Conservatives have larger fear center in brain

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.

Rees, who heads up UCL's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, was originally asked half-jokingly to study the differences between liberal and conservative brains for an episode of BBC 4's Today show that was hosted by actor Colin Firth. But, after studying 90 UCL students and two British parliamentarians, the neurologist was shocked to discover a clear correlation between the size of certain brain parts and political views.

He cautions that, because the study was carried out only on adults, there is no way to tell what came first -- the brain differences or the political opinions.

But evidence is beginning to accumulate that figuring out a person's political proclivities may soon be as simple as a brain scan -- or a DNA test.

In a study published in October, researchers at Harvard and UC-San Diego found that a variant of the DRD4 gene predisposes people to being liberal, but only if they had active social lives as adolescents. The "liberal gene" has also been linked to a desire to try new things, and other "personality traits related to political liberalism."

For his part, actor Colin Firth, who hosted the BBC show that revealed the results of the brain scans, has said he wants to see brain scans on politicians to find out if they are telling the truth about what they believe.

Questioning the "liberal" credentials of the head of Britain's Liberal Democratic party, Nick Clegg, Firth said: "I think we should have him scanned."

  • http://bengayer.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/so-thats-it-then/ So That’s It Then? « Ben

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  • http://homelessonthehighdesert.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/squaws-5/ Squaws … « Homeless on the High Desert

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  • http://www.deadissue.com/archives/2010/12/28/conservitives-have-bigger-brains/ deadissue.com » Blog Archive » Conservitives have bigger brains?

    [...] have bigger brains? Really just a bigger fear center A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives’ brains have [...]

  • http://news.bloggates.com/political-allegiances-linked-to-brain-structure-study-finds-the-guardian/ Political allegiances linked to brain structure, study finds – The Guardian

    [...] brainTelegraph.co.ukBrain thickness determines political leaning: studySydney Morning HeraldStudy: Conservatives have larger 'dr&…Raw [...]

  • http://realitybasedbob.sayanythingblog.com/2010/12/28/study-shows-con-brains-have-larger-amygdalas-and-smaller-anterior-cingulate/ Camp Liberty's Freedom Blog » Study Shows Con Brains Have Larger Amygdalas And Smaller Anterior Cingulate

    [...] 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… [...]

  • http://underthemountainbunker.com/2010/12/28/study-conservative-brains-are-biologically-structured-for-fear-and-primitive-emotions/ Study: Conservative brains are biologically structured for fear and ‘primitive’ emotions | Under the Mountain Bunker & Coffee Shop

    [...] liberal brains are structured for courage and optimism. [...]

  • http://usaads.biz/columbus/community/politics/more-proof-conservatives-are-brain-damaged/ More Proof Conservatives are brain damaged | Columbus Classifieds
  • http://4urchannels.info/news/?p=3505 Brain ‘link to political views’ – The Press Association | NEWS ZONE

    [...] study findsThe GuardianBrain shape of conservatives is different to liberalsDigitalJournal.comRaw Storyall 49 news [...]

  • http://dilchasp.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/scared-straight-and-conservative/ Scared straight…and conservative « dilchasp

    [...] brains of liberals. Amygdalas are responsible for fear and other “primitive” emotions. [Read more] Posted in: Politics, Science ← Solar mystery LikeBe the first to like [...]

  • http://www.economicvoice.com/brain-scan-could-show-political-bias/50015122 Brain scan could show political bias | The Economic Voice

    [...] We could of course leave it at that but even this has to be politicised. [...]

  • http://bruce.maulden.us/2010/12/29/fear-center-wing-nut-brains/ Compatible Creatures – War & Politics & Life – ‘Fear Center’ — Wing-Nut Brains

    [...] brains to be frightful of all kinds of shit, and are unable to feel safe. From the Telegraph (h/t Raw Story): Scientists have found that people with conservative views have brains with larger amygdalas, [...]

  • http://ohiodobieman.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/surprise-conservativecoward/ Surprise! Conservative=Coward «

    [...] knew that science would figure this out [...]

  • http://dakiniland.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/wednesday-reads-ii/ Wednesday Reads II « Sky Dancing

    [...] of wingnuts and their issues, via Raw Story — “Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain“: A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives’ brains [...]

  • http://wonkthevote.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/wednesday-reads/ Wednesday Reads « Let Them Listen

    [...] of wingnuts and their issues, via Raw Story — “Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain“: A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives’ brains [...]

  • http://jeffpelline.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/study-conservative-brains-have-larger-fear-center/ Study: Conservative brains have larger “fear center” « Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

    [...] details are here and [...]

  • http://www.ubim.org/study-conservatives-have-larger-%e2%80%98fear-center%e2%80%99-in-brain-raw-story/ Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain | Raw Story | UBIM

    [...] Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain | Raw Story. Posted by Robert on Tuesday, December 28th, 2010. Filed under World News. You can follow any [...]

  • http://susiemadrak.com/?p=11920 Suburban Guerrilla » Blog Archive » Lizard brains

    [...] the results of invading Iraq), but yes, I’d say that on the whole, the conservatives I know seem to be real bedwetters: Political opinions are considered choices, and in Western democracies the right to choose [...]

  • http://www.mediaite.com/online/new-study-suggests-conservatives-have-larger-fear-centers-in-their-brains/ New Study | Conservatives | Larger Fear Centers | Brains | Mediaite

    [...] interestingly enough, from the school that produced all of the members of the band Coldplay, and includes these findings: …conservatives’ brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas [...]

  • http://inmytrends.com/new-study-suggests-conservatives-have-larger-fear-centers-in-their-brains.htm New Study Suggests Conservatives Have Larger Fear Centers in Their Brains | In My Trends

    [...] the members of the band Coldplay, and includes these findings: …conservatives’ brains have larger amygdalas [...]

  • http://www.pochoblog.com/2010/12/29/right-wingers-large-fear-center-brain/ Right-wingers have larger ‘fear center’ in brain | PochoBlog

    [...] Via Raw Story, 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. [...]

  • http://www.city-data.com/forum/politics-other-controversies/1162494-new-study-finds-conservatives-more-fearful.html#post17177076 New study finds Conservatives more fearful than Progressives – Politics and Other Controversies -Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President – City-Data Forum

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    [...] KNEW that homophobia was an organic-issue??!!! Quote: "Political opinions are considered choices, and in Western democracies the [...]

  • http://republicanredefined.com/2010/12/29/study-conservatives-have-larger-%e2%80%98fear-center%e2%80%99-in-brain/ Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain | REPUBLICAN REDEFINED

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  • http://maureenholland.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/i-know-this-is-a-cheap-shot-but-its-irresistible/ I know this is a cheap shot. But it’s irresistible. | Whatever Works

    [...] Posted on December 29, 2010 by Moe| Leave a comment This headline at Raw Story brings us to a study conducted at University College London in the UK. Here’s the [...]

  • http://liberalvaluesblog.com/2010/12/29/biolgical-differences-between-liberals-and-conservatives/ » Biolgical Differences Between Liberals and Conservatives Liberal Values

    [...] Raw Story, an abstract on the report from October showing a difference in genetic makeup between liberals and [...]

  • http://www.nuovaresistenza.org/2010/12/29/chi-e-di-destra-ha-il-cervello-diverso-dagli-altri/ nuova resistenza » Chi è di destra ha il cervello diverso dagli altri

    [...] COLPA DELL’AMIGDALA - Uno studio condotto alla University College of London in Gran Bretagna ha trovato che “i cervelli di chi si [...]

  • http://www.christianforums.com/t7523686/#post56441665 The Conservative and Liberal brain – Christian Forums

    [...] like to plan based on the worst-case scenario, while liberals tend towards rosier outlooks. Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain | Raw Story __________________ "Rats & roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and [...]

  • http://www.giornalettismo.com/archives/107334/sei-destra-tuo-cervello-piu/ Chi è di destra ha il cervello diverso dagli altri

    [...] COLPA DELL’AMIGDALA - Uno studio condotto alla University College of London in Gran Bretagna ha trovato che “i cervelli di chi [...]

  • http://kaystreet.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/study-conservatives-have-larger-%e2%80%98fear-center%e2%80%99-in-brain/ Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain « The Fifth Column

    [...] Raw Story [...]

  • http://upsideofinertia.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/the-end-of-stupidty/ the end of stupidty? « the upside of inertia

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  • http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/not_hard_wiring_please/ pandagon.net – it’s the eye of the panda, it’s the thrill of the bite

    [...] that, like a lot of media coverage of science and research, is getting linked everywhere because it confirms pre-existing prejudices. Here’s the story: Scientists have found that people with [...]

  • http://www.econ180.com/2010/12/30/conservatives-more-fearful/ » Conservatives More Fearful?

    [...] study conducted at the University College London in the United Kingdom indicated that the part of the brain responsible for fear is larger in [...]

  • http://lefthandednib.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/conservatives-amygdalas-and-war/ Conservatives, Amygdalas, and War « Left-Handed Nib

    [...] reading earlier today about the new British study that shows a link between conservative political views and larger amygdalas (the part of the brain that controls fear and other primitive emotions), I came across another [...]

  • http://lefthandednib.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/conservatives-and-war/ Conservatives and War « Left-Handed Nib

    [...] 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment  After reading earlier today about the new British study that shows a link between conservative political views and larger amygdalas (the part of the brain that controls fear and other primitive emotions), I came across another [...]

  • http://saintpetersblog.com/2010/12/30/new-study-suggests-conservatives-have-larger-fear-centers-in-their-brains/ New study suggests Conservatives have larger fear centers in their brains | Saint Petersblog

    [...] interestingly enough, from the school that produced all of the members of the band Coldplay, and includes these findings: …conservatives’ brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas are [...]

  • http://www.goodfinancial.info/study-conservatives-have-larger-%e2%80%98fear-center%e2%80%99-in-brain/ Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain | GoodFinancial.info

    [...] Excerpt from: Study: Conservatives have larger ‘fear center’ in brain [...]

  • http://failedempire.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/study-suggests-the-conservative-brain-is-less-evolved/ Study Suggests the Conservative Brain is Less Evolved « Failed Empire

    [...] studies confirm what common sense has long suggested (via Susie Madrak): But recent studies suggest that our brains [...]

  • http://www.softgreenglow.com/wp/?p=10392 Random Nuclear Strikes » It never takes very long

    [...] now you’ve probably hear about the “study” that purports to show that folks on the right have larger Amygdalas than le…, and therefore have a greater ability to sense a threat and plan for “worst case [...]

  • http://zevmo.me/blog/study-conservatives-have-a-brain-disorder/ Study: Conservatives have a brain disorder | Zev Mo Green on the Internets

    [...] I don’t know that it’s this cut and dried (after all, look how optimistic the neocons were about the results of invading Iraq), but yes, I’d say that on the whole, the conservatives I know seem to be real bedwetters: [...]

  • http://politicalirony.com/2010/12/30/conservatives-and-genetic-fear/ Political Irony › Conservatives and Genetic Fear

    [...] really funny is that the study was done almost as a joke. The neurologist who conducted the study was asked if there were differences between liberal and [...]

  • http://abrokenheart.maktoobblog.com/1662413/%d8%aa%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%a8-%d8%af%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%8b-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ae%d9%88%d9%81-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b7%d9%81-%d9%88% تلعب دوراً في الخوف والعواطف والذاكرة والبصر (الأميغدالا) مسؤولة عن التواصل الاجتماعي

    [...] even this has to be politicised. [...]

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