Brain Region Found to Regulate Social Generosity - Neuroscience News

Summary: A new study reveals that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) plays a key role in calibrating prosocial behavior based on emotional closeness. Researchers studied individuals with Urbach-Wiethe disease, a rare condition that selectively damages the BLA, using economic games to assess generosity.While patients were just as generous as controls toward close friends, they were significantly more selfish toward strangers and acquaintances. These findings suggest that the BLA doesn’t create prosocial behavior, but regulates when and how it occurs depending on social context.Key Facts:Role of the BLA: The basolateral amygdala helps adjust generosity depending on emotional closeness.Urbach-Wiethe Insight: Individuals with BLA damage were less generous toward distant social contacts but acted normally with close friends.Social Calibration: The BLA doesn’t drive altruism but fine-tunes prosocial responses based on relationship strength.Source: HHUAre there areas of the brain, which regulate...