Brain scans show Republican’s center of fear more active in decision making

If you ever wondered what motivates your political views, the answer may be simpler than you think. A group of scientists from the University of Exeter and the University of California evaluated the brain activity of 82 participants and concluded that political preferences may be due to the brain, reports NBC News on March 1.

Republicans showed increased activity in the right amygdala, the area of the brain responsible for fear, reward and fight or flight, when making decisions. Democrats on the other hand showed increased activity in the left posterior insula, the center for empathy and emotion.

According to the 2009 Gallup poll the majority of Republicans are highly religious, as defined by church attendance, while only 20 percent of Democrats are considered highly religious.

Ironically, many associate empathy with religion. However, it appears that for Republicans, fear and the desire for rewards may override empathy when making decisions.

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