Brain scanners can probe your politics

[Rhoderick]

Is it possible that our political persuasion is determined by brain chemistry? Or is our brain chemistry somehow altered to suit our political persuasion? It'd be one of hell a breakthrough to realize that Republicans can't help but vote for Bush because of the way their brains function. That's good news. That means, like depression and anxiety, it can be treated with drugs.

Okay, so I'm only kidding... It might not be treatable.

Anyway, "scientists" (I love that horribly ambiguous term) are studying the connection between brain chemistry and politics. This article is an incredibly fascinating read...

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SAN DIEGO - Applying some of the same brain-scan technology used to understand Alzheimer’s and autism, scientists are trying to learn what makes a Republican’s mind different from a Democrat’s.
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Last month, Drs. Joshua Freedman and Marco Iacoboni of the University of California at Los Angeles finished scanning the brains of 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats. Each viewed images of President Bush, John Kerry and Ralph Nader.

When viewing their favorite candidate, all showed increased activity in the region implicated in empathy. And when viewing the opposition, all had increased blood flow in the region where humans consciously assert control over emotions — suggesting the volunteers were actively attempting to dislike the opposition.

Nonetheless, some differences appeared between the brain activity of Democrats and Republicans. Take empathy: One Democrat’s brain lit up at an image of Kerry “with a profound sense of connection, like a beautiful sunset,” Freedman said. Brain activity in a Republican shown an image of Bush was “more interpersonal, such as if you smiled at someone and they smiled back.”

And when voters were shown a Bush ad that included images of the Sept. 11 attacks, the amygdala region of the brain — which lights up for most of us when we see snakes — illuminated more for Democrats than Republicans. The researchers’ conclusion: At a subconscious level, Republicans were apparently not as bothered by what Democrats found alarming.

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"So, Mister Smith, what's been bothering you lately?"

"Well, doc, I've been having all these recurring Republican thoughts and I was hoping... you know... maybe you could help me out?"

"Certainly, let me get you a prescription for that. Clear it right up."

[camero]

1. It's about the same as the difference between

murderers and pacifists.

[Child_Of_Isis]

2. I have always said

that the difference between pugs and Dem's lies within the brain. I honestly believe that Dem's are more evolved than pugs. It's like one is from the animal realm, one is from the spiritual realm. The Dem's being from the spiritual realm, of course.

[MisterP]

3. whee, blipverts!

"Already, some companies are dabbling in neuromarketing.
"DaimlerChrysler used MRIs to gauge interest in different makes of cars. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology are scanning brains for reaction to movie trailers. Baylor University scientists just published brain scans suggesting preference for Coke or Pepsi is culturally influenced, and not just a matter of taste.
" 'This is a story of the corruption of medical research,' warned Gary Ruskin, who runs a Portland, Ore., nonprofit organization called Commercial Alert. 'It's a technology that should be used to ease human suffering, not make political propaganda more effective.' ”