[lbo-talk] Political decisions and emotion...

Mike Ballard swillsqueal at yahoo.com.au
Thu Jan 26 12:44:10 PST 2006


The study points to a total lack of reason in political decision-making.

"None of the circuits involved in conscious reasoning were particularly engaged," Westen said. "Essentially, it appears as if partisans twirl the cognitive kaleidoscope until they get the conclusions they want, and then they get massively reinforced for it, with the elimination of negative emotional states and activation of positive ones."

Notably absent were any increases in activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain most associated with reasoning.

full: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11009379/

Happy landings, Mike B)

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