Researchers have identified a specific region of the brain that governs our willingness to help others. This was discovered in a study of patients with brain damage to that particular region. Understanding where in the brain decisions about helping others are made is crucial for understanding how people may be motivated to address major global challenges, such as climate change, infectious disease, and international conflict. This knowledge is also important for developing new strategies to address these challenges.The research, which was published in Nature Human Behaviour, was conducted by experts from the University of Birmingham and the University of Oxford. It reveals the significant role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in facilitating prosocial behaviors, marking the first time this has been demonstrated. Professor Patricia Lockwood, the lead author, emphasized the importance of prosocial behaviors in addressing worldwide issues, noting that while helping others requires effort, humans tend to avoid exertion. Consequently, gaining insight into how the brain processes the effort involved in making helping decisions is crucial.
The researchers conducted a study focusing on the vmPFC, a vital region at the front of the brain that plays a key role in decision-making and other executive functions. Previous MRI studies have associated the vmPFC with decision-making involving a trade-off between rewards and effort. However, MRI cannot determine the essentiality of a brain region for these functions.
Three participant groups were involved in the study: 25 patients with vmPFC damage, 15 patients with damage in other brain areas, and 40 healthy individuals.
age and gender-matched control participants were used to determine the impact of damage to vmPFC specifically. Each participant took part in an experiment where they interacted with another person anonymously. They then completed a decision-making task that measured their willingness to exert physical effort (squeezing a grip force device) to earn rewards (bonus money) for themselves and for the other person. Participants were allowed to meet, but not see, the person they were ‘working’ for in advance. This setup helped convey the sense that participants’ efforts would have a direct impact.
Consequences have real implications, but crucial information about the other person is concealed to avoid influencing decision-making.
Each decision made by the participants involved different amounts of bonus money for themselves or the other person, as well as varying levels of effort required to obtain the reward. This approach allowed the researchers to assess the impact of reward and effort independently, and to use advanced mathematical modeling to precisely measure people’s motivation.
The study’s findings clearly indicated that the vmPFC played a vital role in motivating individuals to assist others. Patients with vmPFC damage demonstrated a decreased willingness to help others and exerted less effort.Even after they agreed to assist, some individuals continued to exert less effort and earned less money to help others compared to control groups. In another part of the study, the researchers utilized a method known as lesion symptom mapping to pinpoint specific subregions of the vmPFC where damage caused individuals to be more antisocial and unwilling to exert effort for others. Surprisingly, damage to a different nearby subregion had the opposite effect, making people more willing to help. Co-lead author Dr. Jo Cutler noted that this study not only enhances our understanding of prosocial motivation but also has the potential to aid in the development of new treatments for clinical disorders.Lockwood, P. L., Cutler, J., Drew, D., Abdurahman, A., Jeyare, D. S. (2022). The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex in Empathy and the Moral Evaluation of Actions. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2022.03.011
Researchers are interested in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying conditions such as psychopathy, as this understanding can provide new insights into treating these conditions. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is of particular interest because it undergoes late development in teenagers and changes with age. It is intriguing to consider whether education can influence this brain region and improve our ability to help others.
