Children hardwired for empathy, say brain researchers
14.07.2008 20:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Children aged seven to 12 appear naturally inclined to feel empathy for others in pain, suggests a recent brain scan study. University of Chicago researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine responses in children to animated photos of people experiencing pain, either inflicted accidentally or intentionally. Previous MRI scans of adults show that the regions of the brain that process first-hand experience of pain light up when shown each type of photo. In addition, scans show activity in areas of the brain linked to social interaction and moral reasoning when adults see images of someone intentionally hurting another person. But since there have been no MRI studies of children's developing brains, it was unknown whether the same two areas would light up. The researchers reasoned that if those areas did in fact show activity —especially those areas linked to social interaction and moral reasoning — it would suggest children are born empathetic and that it is not entirely due to their upbringing. Researchers showed 17 children animated photos of people in pain. The group included nine girls and eight boys. The images of non-intentional pain showed a person accidentally dropping a heavy bowl on their hand. Images of deliberately caused pain showed a person purposely stepping on another's toe. The study, published in the journal Neuropsychologia on Friday, showed that when the children saw animations of someone who was either accidentally or purposefully hurt, the parts of their brain that process first-hand experience of pain lit up, just as they did in adults. More importantly, when shown photos of people intentionally hurt, the children's brains showed activity in those areas engaged in social interaction and moral reasoning. "It is thus worth emphasizing that the regions selectively associated with the perception of an agent harming the other belong to the neural systems underlying moral thinking," wrote lead author Jean Decety. "Although our study did not tap into explicit moral judgment, perceiving an individual intentionally harming another person is likely to elicit the awareness of moral wrongdoing in the observer." Subsequent interviews with the children showed they were in fact aware of wrongdoing in the photos. "Thirteen of the children thought that the situations were unfair, and they asked about the reason that could explain this behaviour," Decety said in a news release. He concludes that programming for empathy is something that is "hardwired" into the brains of normal children, and not entirely the product of parental guidance or other nurturing. Decety said he hopes other researchers can build on his study to help understand how brain impairments influence anti-social behavior, such as bullying. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKHealth HeadlinesAlzheimer's patients who exercise have bigger brains: studyExercise may slow the atrophy of the brain brought on by Alzheimer's, suggests a new study. Heart health benefits of flax studied by Winnipeg researchersThe lowly flax plant may not have the renown of wheat and other crops, but researchers are trying to find out whether it could serve as a new weapon against heart disease.89% of kids' food products low on nutritional value: studyAbout 89 per cent of grocery items marketed to appeal to children offer poor nutritional value, according to a new study.Seal oil shows promise for healthy heart, researcher saysConsumers taking fish oil capsules for a daily hit of omega-3 fatty acids should consider seal oil capsules instead, a St. John's researcher says. Pioneering heart doctor Michael DeBakey dead at 99Dr. Michael DeBakey, the world-famous cardiovascular surgeon who pioneered such now-common procedures as bypass surgery and invented a host of devices to help heart patients, has died. Health FeaturesBlogSherraine SchalmI am fencer, hear me roar!IN DEPTHRed, red wineHealth pros and consHEALTHLife spanLongevity secrets from around the worldVIEWPOINT/ANALYSISScience FrictionStephen Strauss on vitamin D and diabetesHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosBreaking up's not that hard to doPeople who read this also read …
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