 |
| What happens when the abnormal brain becomes common? Does it form its own political party? |
This study of the relationship between political orientation and brain-form, based on questionnaires and MRI scans of the brains of 90 students, was conducted by Professor Geraint Rees of University College, London.
The results showed a strong correlation between between political belief and two specific regions of the brain. The grey matter of the anterior cingulate was significantly thicker amongst those who described themselves as liberal, or left wing, while the amygdala – an area associated with emotional processing – was larger in those who regarded themselves as conservative or right wing.
“It’s a remarkable finding” says professor Rees. “We were very surprised to find two areas of the brain from which we could predict political attitudes.” [Tom Feilden, BBC Radio 4, 28 December 2020]