Crossing the Aisle: A Neurological Analysis of Political Polarities

This is a synopsis of recent studies concerning the neurobiological developments of the adolescent brain, the functions of the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, and the derived implications that the brain has in shaping political ideologies found post-pubescent. During this impressionable period of one’s life, it is crucial that skills such as empathy and compassion are stressed to help mold adolescents into capable adults with the ability to communicate and resolve conflict among each other. As a consequence of understanding these aforementioned brain regions and their responsibility for our problem-solving and personality traits, the political community may be able to dissolve the tensions between highly differentiated political views, nationally and globally