MRI scans show who is more charitable-young or older adults Blogger:Being Sane Takes Too Much Work

A new study shows as we age we become less self-centered. MRI scans of the brain show evidence of this. 80 university employees, ranging from 18 to 67, volunteered for the study conducted by Ulrich Mayr,chair of psychology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, and his colleagues. The volunteers' brains were scanned while observing money going either to charity or to themselves. In the reward areas of the brain, the scans showed different levels of participants' activity. Older rewards became more active when shown the money went to charity. The reward areas of the younger group became more active when they received the money themselves. As you age, your experiences of suffering and others' suffering increases. The study suggests, as a result of these experiences, you can become more benevolent and altruistic.