Are Political Brains Wired Differently?

Researchers look at associations between political identities and neurocognitive differences.

Psychologists have noticed consistent cognitive and decision-making differences between liberals and conservatives. These researchers aimed to observe similar neurocognitive differences by examining the process of conflict monitoring, defined as detecting a mismatch between habitual response and that required for a current situation. This process can be tested with a “Go/No-Go” paradigm, where a frequent Go response (e.g., push a computer key when you see “M”) becomes habitual, and a No-Go stimulus (e.g., do not press a key when you see “W”) is presented infrequently. Monitoring the conflict between habitual and required responses is mediated by the anterior cingulate cortex and can be detected with event-related potentials and with error-r…

Reviewing Author

Jonathan Silver, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)

Jonathan Silver, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience