Empathy and Altruistic, or Old and Individualistic: Our brains reveal the truth

Prefrontal cortex activity reveals that those with a more detached personality show similar activity when processing both social and non-social stimuli. In contrast, agreeable individuals with Empathy and Altruistic traits show notable PFC activity differences when processing information.

Unveiling the Brain’s Secrets: How Empathy and Altruistic Traits Shape Our Personality

Are you empathic, generous, and selfless? In short, do you possess that specific personality trait defined as agreeableness in psychology?

Recent research from SISSA, published in the journal NeuroImage, highlights the brain mechanisms underlying Empathy and Altruistic traits. Conducted by Dr. Sandra Arbula and Elisabetta Pisanu, the study, coordinated with Professor Raffaella I. Rumiati, reveals new insights into how these traits influence brain activity. Their work sheds light on the neurological foundations of empathy and altruism, providing a deeper understanding of how these qualities shape our interactions and responses to social stimuli.

SISSA enrolled dozens of volunteers based on their degree of agreeableness, one of the five major personality dimensions.

Researchers presented participants with short animations featuring shapes that either moved randomly or interacted in socially meaningful ways. They recorded participants’ brain activity using fMRI to detect activated areas during these tasks. This data provides insights into how different types of stimuli engage the brain, offering valuable information for both research and clinical applications. By analyzing these responses, the study aims to deepen understanding of cognitive and emotional processing related to social interactions and visual stimuli.

The study found indifferent subjects show similar PFC activation for social and non-social contexts, unlike more agreeable individuals.

Individuals high in agreeableness anticipate key social information, understanding cognitive, emotional, and motivational aspects for successful interactions.

This research could enhance personality tests by adding brain responses to social stimuli, providing a more nuanced agreeableness measure. By including these brain activity patterns, assessments could gain deeper insights into individuals’ social traits and behaviors.