New Study Shows Brain Differences Between Democrats and Republicans

You thought it was all about analyzing issues?

New research shows that picking a political party may have more to do with your neurological makeup than we know. After studying MRI scans of 24 students, the University of South Carolina found more neural activity in areas believed to be linked with broad social connectedness (like friends and the world-at-large) in those who identified as Democrats, and more activity in areas linked with tight social connectedness (like family and country) in those who identified as Republicans. In some ways the study confirms a stereotype that Democrats tend to be more global and Republicans more America-centric. “The differences are significant and real,” said lead researcher Roger Newman-Norlund. “The results were a little surprising. This shows the picture is more complicated. One possible explanation for our results is that Democrats and Republicans process social connectedness in a fundamentally different way.” (Newswise)

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