Posted on 01/21/2007 5:32:34 PM PST by HangnJudge
DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University Medical Center researchers have discovered that activation of a particular brain region predicts whether people tend to be selfish or altruistic.
"Although understanding the function of this brain region may not necessarily identify what drives people like Mother Theresa, it may give clues to the origins of important social behaviors like altruism," said study investigator Scott A. Huettel, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center.
Results of the study appear Sunday, Jan. 21, in the advance online edition of Nature Neuroscience and will be published in the February 2007 print issue of the journal. The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Altruism describes the tendency of people to act in ways that put the welfare of others ahead of their own. Why some people choose to act altruistically is unclear, says lead study investigator Dharol Tankersley, a graduate student in Huettel's laboratory...
..."We believe that the ability to perceive other people's actions as meaningful is critical for altruism," Tankersley said.
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.
The researchers are now exploring ways to study the development of this brain region early in life, Tankersley said, adding that such information may help determine how the tendencies toward altruism are established.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
I was about to write a check, donating to this study; but I bought a flat sceen TV so I could watch the playoffs instead. I was hoping they'd be able to tell me where I stood in the group......ah, well....
Perhaps it is the portion of the baby's brain that is activated when he gazes into his mother's eyes and then reaches up to touch her face.
Altruism as well as its cousin, compassion, militate against evolution.
Where is the line drawn when it's your in-laws inviting themselves to visit for the umpteenth time? They never show up when there's a problem - they wait until you are finally breathing some fresh air and can relax.
Use it on all of their proffessors first. Now that would be interesting.
I think it may be when the mother gazes down on the baby and realizes that the baby is now the primary responsibility... the baby's just looking for a free meal (gotcha).
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