Monday, February 08, 2021

Can the brain resist the group opinion?


https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/nruh-ct020621.php

 

News Release 8-Feb-2021
National Research University Higher School of Economics

 

Scientists at HSE University have learned that disagreeing with the opinion of other people leaves a 'trace' in brain activity, which allows the brain to later adjust its opinion in favour of the majority-held point of view. The article was published in Scientific Reports.

We often change our beliefs under the influence of others. This social behavior is called conformity and explains varios components of our behaviour, from voting at elections to fashion trends among teenagers.

Brain research has recently well informed about short-term effects of social influence on decision making. If our choice coincides with the point of view of the people who are important to us, this decision is reinforced in the brain's "pleasure" centres involved in the larger dopaminergic system responsible for learning, motor activity and many other functions. Conversely, in instances of disagreement with others, the brain signals that a 'mistake' has been made and triggers conformity.


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