A Brain Scan Could Predict Political Leanings

How does brain activity affect world politics?

Source: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

Political and psychological researchers at Ohio State University, New York University, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine can predict whether you are a conservative or a liberal through analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. Their current research confirms previous studies suggesting there are both biological and psychological differences in the brains of those who lean left and right.

In a study published in PNAS Nexus, the researchers used fMRI data to analyze the brain activity of 174 volunteers, aged 18 to 40 years, and of varying political ideologies, while performing various tasks. The tasks involved emotional responses, memory retrieval, monetary (reward) incentive, and theory of mind, wherein the participant has to determine whether a statement is true or false. The researchers observed how functional connectivity networks in the brain differ between the two ideologies while performing the different tasks and at rest.

Understanding Functional Connectivity

One way researchers get a better understanding of the brain and, specifically, how different areas of the brain work together, is by studying functional connectivity. In simple terms, functional connectivity analysis using fMRI studies can help determine whether two events that consistently happen in the brain at the same time are somehow related to each other. That doesn’t necessarily mean one event in the brain causes another or that the two different areas of the brain are even interacting with one another; it’s possible that a third source could be driving activity in both areas of the brain at the same time.

Changes in established functional connectivity over time can help researchers determine if damage or deterioration in particular areas of the brain are associated with various brain diseases and disorders. Noted differences in functional connectivity in the brains of different people have also contributed to the development of this relatively new field of political neuroscience wherein researchers are discovering a neurological basis for different political ideologies, attitudes, and behaviors. They have discovered fundamental differences in the cognitive and emotional processes of liberals and conservatives.

Political Brain Science

These researchers found that the empathy, reward, and retrieval tasks were most strongly predictive of political leaning. While data from most of the tasks indicated political leanings toward more moderate conservatism or moderate liberalism, the researchers found that the reward task aligned with extreme political views (very liberal or very conservative) and the empathy task most significantly correlated with moderate ideology.

This study was designed only to test the theory that differences in political ideology can be reflected by functional connectivity in areas of the brain, as seen in fMRI scans. The purpose was not to outline or analyze specific traits of either liberalism or conservatism. Generally, the strongest predictor of someone’s political leanings is considered to be the ideology of their parents. Now researchers know that brain scan analysis of functional connectivity may be equally accurate.

Since the number of conservative and liberal participants in this study was significantly unbalanced, and the number of extremists very small, the researchers call for further study of the neurological differences in political ideology, particularly extreme attitudes and behavior. The big question these scientists want to answer is this: Does someone’s brain structure reflect the political ideology they choose, or does the person choose an ideology because of the functional structure of their brain?