# Polarized neural responses to political narratives are sensitive to small variations in self-reported political perspectives

## TL;DR

This study shows that even small differences in political views can lead to polarized brain activity when people listen to political narratives.

## Contribution

The study reveals that neural polarization occurs with subtle ideological differences, not just stark political divides.

## Key findings

- Neural polarization was observed between individuals with slightly different immigration views.
- Polarized brain activity occurred in widespread neural areas during political narratives.
- Polarization was present for both supportive and opposing narratives, reflecting confirmation bias.

## Abstract

In an increasingly polarized and divided world, people often interpret new information through an ideologically biased lens (e.g., confirmation bias). Recent studies in the emerging field of political neuroscience report the phenomenon of “neural polarization”: cerebral activity that is shared (synchronized) between individuals holding similar political perspectives – but not between those holding dissimilar perspectives. Here, we extend this literature by testing for neural polarization between people with subtly different ideologies. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while individuals (n = 40) listened to narratives about immigration in Finland, we observe neural polarization between more and slightly less immigration-supportive individuals in widespread neural areas, similar to the areas reported in previous studies of neural polarization. The findings extend current knowledge by revealing that neural polarization arises even when self-reported ideological perspectives differ only slightly. Together, these results shed light on how political information is interpreted and processed in the brain.

•Neural polarization occurs even with subtle ideological differences•Widespread brain regions show polarized activity•Neural polarization occurs both for congruent and incongruent ideological narratives•The study sheds light on how confirmation bias is reflected through polarized brain activity

Neural polarization occurs even with subtle ideological differences

Widespread brain regions show polarized activity

Neural polarization occurs both for congruent and incongruent ideological narratives

The study sheds light on how confirmation bias is reflected through polarized brain activity

Health sciences; Neuroscience; Social sciences