Despite whom voters might select in the Illinois general primaries today, there are several processes in the decisions the more sensitive voters might be aware of.

New neurobiological research presents a new perspective into the balance of logic and emotion when making political decisions.

Because of brain imaging, society knows more than ever about the internal states of emotions like infatuation and stress. In a recently released study, researchers see what the brain does when handling a contradiction, as often happens in a political arena with only two major parties.

John Skowronski, an NIU psychology professor, said it is important to remember the architecture of the brain is integrated.

“There is likely a series of thoughts that fire in response to perceptions of inconsistencies,” he said. It’s the kinds of thoughts you have in response to messages, rather than the actual message that really serve to determine how powerful[ly] it influences you. It is quite plausible that these emotional responses are happening rather automatically.”

In a study of these automatic responses, researchers interviewed men who described themselves as Democrats or Republicans during the 2004 presidential elections. While hooked to an MRI machine, they listened to quotes from the political candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry. Then the participants heard a statement that showed the candidate reversing his position from the earlier quote and considered the contradiction.

The results showed Republican participants were quick to make negative judgments of Kerry but maintained opinions of Bush, despite the contradictions. The inverse occurred with the Democrats.

Kay Forest, associate professor in sociology, said emotions and experiences play a part in all human behavior.

“No decision, behavior or attitude is purely based on cold logic. Emotion might be the driving force behind the decision rather than logic based on evidence,” she said

The brain imaging revealed an increase of activity in a region involved in controlling negative emotions but also in areas responsible for making judgments about forgiveness.

However, the regions accountable for logical reasoning remained mostly unaffected.

“There is no question whether emotion plays a part of decision making. It plays a part of all behavior,” said Adam King, NIU assistant professor of sociology.

“There have been cases where, through physical injury, people have had the emotional center of the brain cut off from the rest of them,” King said. “The result was they lost their ability to make decisions completely. Even simple things like what to eat for breakfast.”