A brain injury is undeniably a significant event in one’s life, but whether it permanently changes a person’s political views and/or affiliation seems an individual matter.  Those across the pond, though, have found that the level to which one holds these ideologies may be altered by this traumatic event, specifically heightened.

Found on the NIH website, an Oxford University study published this spring determined, “political involvement was more intense after lesions connected to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior precuneus… in conservative-leaning participants. Political involvement was less intense after lesions connected to the amygdala and anterior temporal lobe… in liberal-leaning participants.”

NOTE: The UK traditionally leans more socially liberal than America. Would the results of this study have the same conclusion if analyzed with United States participants?

NIH link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40117387/

Brain regions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_in_the_human_brain