The More Gray Matter You Have, The More Altruistic You Are

The More Gray Matter You Have, The More Altruistic You Are

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

New research shows that people who behave more altruistically have more gray matter at the junction between the parietal and temporal lobes. This shows, for the first time, a connection between brain anatomy, brain activity and altruistic behavior, say the researchers from the University of Zurich.

“These are exciting results for us,” said lead researcher Ernest Fehr. “However, one should not jump to the conclusion that altruistic behavior is determined by biological factors alone.” He noted that the volume of gray matter is also influenced by social processes. This raises the “fascinating” question as to whether it is possible to promote the development of brain regions that are important for altruistic behavior through training or social norms, he said.