Brain Damage Can Alter Political Passions, New Study Finds

A new study has revealed that damage to specific regions of the brain — particularly those involved in self-control and emotional regulation — can significantly alter a person’s political intensity.

The research, conducted on Vietnam War veterans, found that injury to the prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with reasoning and self-restraint, may intensify political beliefs, making individuals more passionate or rigid in their views.

In contrast, damage to the amygdala, which plays a key role in emotional processing, was found to reduce political fervor, suggesting a dampening effect on the emotional drive behind political engagement.

By comparing veterans with localized brain lesions to those without such injuries, researchers have, for the first time, mapped the brain networks that appear to regulate political passion.

The study offers groundbreaking insight into how neurological functions influence political behavior, shedding light on the biological underpinnings of our ideological convictions and how trauma may shape them.