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Colin Firth credited in brain research | Colin Firth credited in brain research |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth has been credited as one of four co-authors of an academic paper into human brains. | |
The King's Speech star commissioned the research when he guest edited Radio 4's Today programme in December. | The King's Speech star commissioned the research when he guest edited Radio 4's Today programme in December. |
For his edition, he asked scientists to scan the brains of politicians to see if there were any differences depending on political leanings. | For his edition, he asked scientists to scan the brains of politicians to see if there were any differences depending on political leanings. |
The paper, hailed as a "useful contribution", has been published in the journal Current Biology. | The paper, hailed as a "useful contribution", has been published in the journal Current Biology. |
Scientist Geraint Rees, from University College London's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, initially scanned the brains of Conservative politician Alan Duncan and Labour's Stephen Pound for the Today programme. | Scientist Geraint Rees, from University College London's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, initially scanned the brains of Conservative politician Alan Duncan and Labour's Stephen Pound for the Today programme. |
He then continued the research with a further 90 participants which found that Liberal and Conservative attitudes were associated with thicker areas of parts of the brain. | He then continued the research with a further 90 participants which found that Liberal and Conservative attitudes were associated with thicker areas of parts of the brain. |
The finding was reproduced in another sample of participants, leading researchers to estimate they could predict political leanings with 72% accuracy by looking at brain structure. | The finding was reproduced in another sample of participants, leading researchers to estimate they could predict political leanings with 72% accuracy by looking at brain structure. |
New York University's Professor John Jost, one of the world's leading authorities in political psychology, told The Psychologist magazine: "It is a useful contribution because it builds on and extends previous work. | New York University's Professor John Jost, one of the world's leading authorities in political psychology, told The Psychologist magazine: "It is a useful contribution because it builds on and extends previous work. |
"It will probably be several years before we understand the full meaning of these results. In the meantime, the field of political neuroscience could do worse than having Colin Firth as a scientific ambassador." | "It will probably be several years before we understand the full meaning of these results. In the meantime, the field of political neuroscience could do worse than having Colin Firth as a scientific ambassador." |
Today's science reporter Tom Feilden is also credited as authoring the paper, along with Mr Rees' colleague, Ryota Kanai. | Today's science reporter Tom Feilden is also credited as authoring the paper, along with Mr Rees' colleague, Ryota Kanai. |
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