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Finding the brain's generosity centre

Research

Scientists from Oxford University and UCL have identified part of our brain that helps us learn to be good to others. The discovery could help understanding of conditions like psychopathy where people's behaviour is extremely antisocial.

Homeless woman begging © Michael Coghlan - Creative Commons License 2.0
Homeless woman begging

The researchers were led by Dr Patricia Lockwood, who explained: 'Prosocial behaviours are social behaviours that benefit other people. They are a fundamental aspect of human interactions, essential for social bonding and cohesion, but very little is currently known about how and why people do things to help others.

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Photo credit: Comfy Beggar via photopin (license)

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