Selfish behaviour can be switched on or off
Written on Sunday, October 08, 2006 by Gemini
Selfish, egotistical behaviour really is a turn-off, Swiss and US researchers said, triggered by activating a region of the brain. They studied how activating the area of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex would trigger self-control, researchers from the University of Zurich and Harvard University said Friday in The (London) Telegraph.
A weak magnetic field was used to disable this area during the experiment. Researchers said participants gave their permission before undergoing the experiment, the Telegraph said. Study participants with the right DLPFC suppressed was less able to keep their self-control in check, the Telegraph said, but they still understood the concept of fairness.
