Who Would Have Ever Suspected?

This, from Crooks and Liars today:

"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."

No comment needed.

Comments

Cardinal44 said…
I'm surprised they could measure brains that small.
December 29, 2010 at 6:01 PM
magpie said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
December 30, 2010 at 2:10 AM
magpie said…
It's probably garbage though. How big was the test group?

I had a parallel 'discussion' over at my site with a conservative who was carrying on about a "liberal gene".

If we proceed from some assumption that conservatives vote conservative because of biology rather than being brainwashed, lied to, manipulated or just a being a jerk then there's not much we can hope for.

It's also similar to the kind of 'science' filth like Stormfront like to puke into the Internet. We don't want to sound like them.

However... the neurologist in the article does say it's not clear whether the brain differences come before the political views or visa versa... potentially meaning that thinking like a conservative is brain-damaging.
December 30, 2010 at 2:11 AM
magpie said…
Answering my own question:
The study was carried out on 90 students.
December 30, 2010 at 2:23 AM
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