A New Scientific Frontier: Let’s Delve into the Research!
Are we Hard-Wired for Giving?
Author Elizabeth Svoboda
Contrary to conventional wisdom that humans are essentially selfish, scientists are finding that the brain is built for generosity. New research shows that not only do humans have a generosity gene, but there’s a biological basis for why giving feels good.
Using tools like fMRI, scientists are identifying the precise circuits within the brain that control these nurturing social impulses. Where once there was only speculation about the origins of the human desire to help others, a body of data is starting to fill the gap, revealing key workings of the biological hardware that makes altruism possible.