Believe it or not..."Political Views Are Reflected in Brain Structure"

[dixiegrrrrl]

Political Views Are Reflected in Brain Structure

ScienceDaily (Apr. 7, 2011) — We all know that people at opposite ends of the political spectrum often really can't see eye to eye. Now, a new report published online on April 7th in Current Biology, reveals that those differences in political orientation are tied to differences in the very structures of our brains.

Individuals who call themselves liberal tend to have larger anterior cingulate cortexes, while those who call themselves conservative have larger amygdalas. Based on what is known about the functions of those two brain regions, the structural differences are consistent with reports showing
a greater ability of liberals to cope with conflicting information and a greater ability of conservatives to recognize a threat, the researchers say.

"Previously, some psychological traits were known to be predictive of an individual's political orientation," said Ryota Kanai of the University College London. "Our study now links such personality traits with specific brain structure."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110407121337.htm

[Drale]

1. But conservatives think that everything is a threat

so they don't have a greater ability to pick out a real threat, they just think everything is a threat.

[Hugabear]

2. Now be fair...they don't view everything as a threat

Minorities, homosexuals, education, tolerance, compassion, unions, working poor, unemployed, etc - they absolutely view these as threats.

Corporations, monopolies, fossil fuels, fundamentalism - they don't view these as threats

[Drale]

4. Corporations that could hurt their corporation,

other oil company's that take profits from them, fundamental muslims, all those things are threats. Pretty much anything that doesn't help them is a threat.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Yup.

Saying that they are better at recognizing a threat is just a polite way saying they're a bunch of fucking bed-wetters. They're afraid of everything.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Mr. Science Guy was being kind to the poor dears.

[Newest Reality]

5. Minority Report?

Like we actually have any clear and concise idea of what we are and what reality actually is?

We start out with what people tell us is real, or what we should believe. We spend the rest of our lives basing our nature on our nurturing. We tend to rarely bother to question all the assumptions we are given in place of anything approximating what could be called actuality.

We live in a world made of words and then resort to scientific explanations about atoms, subatomic particles, Relativity and Quantum Physics, as well as molecular biology and neurology to try to understand ourselves and our existence. We believe in free will and/or determinism, as well as our own existence, without bothering to think about those presupposed ideas. We are subject to ideas, beliefs and ever-changing academic waves of discoveries and theories while trying to relate those dynamics to our own everyday experience of life.

Reality itself, could very well be nothing more than various forms of consensus at any given time. In our current crises concerning our well-being, prosperity and physical existence, we seem to be living in a Simulation that thrives on our capacity to be divided in purpose and understanding as a means to dis-empower our natural capacity to adapt and thrive in the most efficient ways that we are normally prone to. The very power of and capabilities of our multi-million-year-old, evolutionary bio-computers is being bypassed and short-circuited to sacrifice and yield its results and outcome to those who are in the position to influence and determine the consensus reality that we share as social creatures.

That is the dynamic and power structure that we must dedicate ourselves and our families and friends to change in these times.

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. well put NR

I just finished reading Spontaneous Evolution by cell biologist Bruce Lipton. He posits, and backs up with a huge body of evidence, that we must all work together because we are evolving as ONE. It's not about compromise either. With eveyone working on solutions, we can come up with solutions that satisifes the needs of all.

He covers everything from how we set up our social structures to monetary systems and everything in between.

It took me three months of going through the book. That's pretty much unheard of for me to take that long reading a book. This one is just that dense. From where humanity has been, the patterns we keep repeating, where we are now, and looking at our future.

I won't spoil the ending, but it actually is hopeful.

[whistler162]

8. Not this HORSE S**T again!

to many people believe anything put in print!

And ethnicisty relates to mental abilities, or so studies show!

[jimlup]

9. But the problem is both are subject to the indocrination of the plutocracy

And both are subject to that though yes, I would say that conservatives do seem to be motivated by irrational "fear" more often than not. What is weird is that rational fear of things they should be concerned about don't seem to phase them. They love nuclear power and guns.