The Brain Chemistry of Altruism
Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center have published a study recently in an on-line edition of Nature Neuroscience.
Here are some quotes from the university’s press office:
In the study, researchers scanned the brains of 45 people while they either played a computer game or watched the computer play the game on its own. In both cases, successful playing of the game earned money for a charity of the study participant's choice.According to the researchers, the results suggest that altruistic behavior may originate from how people view the world rather than how they act in it.
The scientists suggest that studying the brain systems that allow people to see the world as a series of meaningful interactions may ultimately help further understanding of disorders, such as autism or antisocial behavior, that are characterized by deficits in interpersonal interactions.
Interesting chicken and egg questions emerge from this. Are some of the "series of meaningful interactions" a result of brain chemistry, or does the way we "see the world" affect that chemistry?
Here here is a link to the press release. Here is the abstract.