Study Examines the Political Human Brain: Democrat vs. Republican

New research from the University of South Carolina (USC) provides evidence that choosing a candidate may depend more on our biological make-up than on careful analysis of issues. That’s because the brains of self-identified Democrats and Republicans are hard-wired differently and may be naturally inclined to hold varying, if not opposing, perceptions and values. The USC study, which analyzed MRI scans of 24 USC students, builds on existing research in the emerging field of political neuroscience.

“The differences are significant and real,” says lead researcher Roger Newman-Norlund, an assistant professor of exercise science in the Arnold School of Public Health and director of USC’s new Brain Stimulation Laboratory. For more information, click here to read the full release.