March 18, 2016

Researchers Find Altruism, Empathy Controlled By Brain



Scientists found that dampening regions of the brain that block impulses will allow people to act in their true nature - either more selfish or selfless.

[From article]
Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself - or so the saying goes.
But, while most will have heard the old adage, some people appear more inclined to live their life according to the sentiment.
Now, scientists believe they have uncovered the reason why some are more selfless than others.
Two new studies reveal kind people experience more activity in areas of the brain that fuel empathetic impulses.
Dr Leonardo Christov-Moore, of University of California, Los Angeles, said: ‘Our altruism may be more hard-wired than previously thought.’
[. . .]
Dr Christov-Moore said: ‘It’s almost like these areas of the brain behave according to a neural “golden rule".
‘The more we tend to vicariously experience the states of others, the more we appear to be inclined to treat them as we would ourselves.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3499094/Why-people-nicer-s-brains-altruistic-hardwired-selfless.html

Why ARE some people nicer than others? It's all in their head! The altruistic among us are ‘hardwired to be selfless’
Some people can't help but be altruistic - or selfless, scientists revealed
Kind people have more activity in brain areas fueling empathetic impulses
Shutting down certain brain areas can make people act nicer, study found
Thus, experts say that a person's sense of selflessness is hardwired
By Lisa Ryan For Dailymail.com
Published: 12:19 EST, 18 March 2016 | Updated: 14:02 EST, 18 March 2016


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