I would give anything to get access to an fMRI and show participants these 'examples of persuasive design' while they are hooked up to it.

Much of the literature on persuasive design suggests that the persuasion happens in the cerebral cortex. Neuroscience has shown that persuasion happens a whole lot deeper, in some very primitive parts of our brains. I'd love to see how brains 'light up' when they're confronted with some of these designs!

If anyone has any resources on fMRI research into persuasive design, I'd be the happiest geek alive.