Red Brain, Blue Brain: Republicans and Democrats Process Risk Differently

[Fern]

The point definitely doesn't stand. You did not understand the links that you provided earlier, as evidenced by what you're saying about pictorial material.

I will specifically quote the part that you bolded:


The amygdala deals with affective information retrieval as it relates to image processing. Numbers do not display affect as affect in this context means the display or experience of emotion. That is what the amygdala works with in terms of images, it is not simply an image processing center.(if you find that you believe numbers are displaying affect, please consult a physician immediately)

I hope that clears things up, it is very unfortunate that you chose to critique a study's methodology without even reading it first though.

I'm aware of what "affective information" means and was when I posted that info.

So, we disagree.

BTW: Do you think the article accurately portrays the study?

Fern

 

[fskimospy]

I'm aware of what "affective information" means and was when I posted that info.

So, we disagree.

BTW: Do you think the article accurately portrays the study?

Fern

If you are aware of what 'affective information' means, can you explain why you believe people reading numbers off a computer screen are engaging in affective image processing? Can you explain why people would search playing cards for affective information? I can honestly say as someone who has gambled far more than is good for me in life that I have never once wondered how the queen of hearts was feeling.

I really can't figure out how there's any way to 'just disagree' about that. One interpretation seems clearly wrong.

Clearly people who have read that article do not understand that study's primary conclusion, which is that people of differing political ideologies process information differently on a very fundamental neurological level. While this result holds with other research that finds conservatives show greater threat sensitivity, it does not mean that was what was going on here. The study in fact specifically mentions all of the other functions the amygdala serves.

I think for people looking for a general overview of his research the article was fine, but for those who are looking to attack or take issue with the conclusions it was too general, as it clearly led to people making quite a few mistaken arguments even in this thread.