Title: Modulation of empathy in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex facilitates altruistic behavior: An fNIRS study
Abstract: Journal of Integrative NeuroscienceVol. 14, No. 02, pp. 207-222 (2015) Research ArticlesNo AccessModulation of empathy in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex facilitates altruistic behavior: An fNIRS studyToshiyuki Himichi and Michio NomuraToshiyuki HimichiDepartment of Cognitive Psychology in Education, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanJapan Society for the Promotion of Sciences, Kojimachi Business Center Building, 5-3-1, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan Search for more papers by this author and Michio NomuraDepartment of Cognitive Psychology in Education, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan Search for more papers by this author https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219635215500120Cited by:6 PreviousNext AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsRecommend to Library ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AbstractPrevious studies suggest that the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) is involved in modulating empathy. However, it is unclear whether VLPFC activation while an individual empathizes with others is related to subsequent altruistic behavior. In the present study, participants observed two people playing a card game while empathizing with one of them (target person); PFC activation during the task was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). After this task, participants distributed money to the target person. Results showed that activation in the left VLPFC during empathizing with the target person, who lost a small amount of money, was positively correlated with the amount of money distributed; this activation mediated a relationship between norm of restitution toward helping and the amount of distributed money. 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Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-06-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 13
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