The Science of the Brain - Altruism
I have written in several blogs here about the amygdala –
a part of the brain located in the experiential brain (as opposed to the
rational brain in the frontal lobes).
The amygdala is the seat of certain emotions including what we have
talked about for years as the “fight or flight” syndrome. But with scientific tests of functional MRI’s
(fMRIs), the amygdala is seen as the seat of many emotions and the function of
empathy.
NPR.org had an article about the amydgala and altruism
today. “The amygdala was significantly
larger in the altruists compared to those who had never donated an organ.
Additionally, the amygdala in the altruists was extremely sensitive to the
pictures of people displaying fear or distress.”
Many people who believe in different religions hold that
altruism only comes from a god. Howver,
science is showing that altruism, and empathy are natural effects with natural
causes. And this raises the
responsibility that those of us who are dedicated to developing ourselves and
others need to be aware of this function of the brain so that we can develop altruism
and empathy in ourselves as well as others.
The article also tells of tests of the amygdala showing a
lack of a developed amygdala in psychopaths.
Which again, in practical terms, shows us why when people are convicted
of crimes, and have a less-developed amygdala, they should be sentenced to
serve time in an environment where their amygdala can be developed rather than
an environment where their amygdala will shrink even more.
We can learn a lot about ourselves and other humans from
the science of the brain.
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