Find the 'compassion point' in the brain

American neuroscientists have found ' humanity points ' in the human brain.

'Although understanding the function of this brain region does not necessarily define anything, but it can also give us the key to the origin of important social attitudes such as altruism,' According to research author Scott Huettel, professor of psychology assistants at Duke University Medical Center.

(Photo: Dreamstime, TTO) Experts often acknowledge altruism that seems to make people " hard ". Then how does it grow and why? In order to help solve this problem, Professor Huettel's group gave the study participants many different games, and told them that if they won, they would be rewarded for their own money or the money was donated. a charity. Researchers use high-tech functional cameras (fMRI) to observe the ' hot spots ' of activity in participants' brains.

Participants were also asked to fill out a questionnaire to assess their selfishness or selflessness. They react differently depending on whether they get their own money or that money is for charity. In the study, the most compassionate people had the most powerful activity at the upper temporal groove - the back, which is often involved in the processing of incoming information, social relations and motion control.

Professor Huettel said he was surprised at the results.'We do this experiment with the idea that true altruism is a function of the brain reward system - altruistic people will simply feel that altruism is rewarded more' - he said. .

Q.HONG