Scientists have found a part of the brain associated with the tendency to help people around. Article about it published In Current Biology.
British neurophysiologists from the University of Birmingham have managed to find that a small group of neurons in the cingulate gyrus of the cerebral cortex is responsible for altruistic behavior. Interestingly, the same area of the brain has previously been associated with the perception of ethical and moral norms, as well as the ability to make decisions and experience emotions.
To find out, the scientists monitored the brain activity of 38 young British volunteers aged between 18 and 35. During the experiments, one of the researchers, who played the role of volunteers, asked other young people to help them complete the exercises as part of another paid study. During the experiments, the experts observed the brain activity of the volunteers and tracked how different the brain activity of those who were paid for the same work differed. The analysis showed that the activity of neurons in the cingulate cortex of the brain directly reflected how often volunteers helped strangers and how much effort they put in during such altruistic acts. At the same time, this region of the brain did not manifest itself in any way during self-interested actions.
The study’s authors hope that as a result, scientists will be able to understand why some people are willing to help others without direct benefit to themselves, while others act only in their own self-interest.
ancient biologists raised schizophrenic artificial brain.