Giving Lights Up Like Getting
In brain scans, giving money to charity engaged the same reward circuitry as receiving money. Even a forced, tax-like payment to charity did, and choosing to give did more.
Source: Giving and the brain’s reward systemlearn more at tribeofgiants.com
Growing evidenceThe research
- Moll, J., Krueger, F., Zahn, R., Pardini, M., de Oliveira-Souza, R., & Grafman, J. (2006). Human fronto–mesolimbic networks guide decisions about charitable donation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103(42), 15623–15628.
- Harbaugh, W. T., Mayr, U., & Burghart, D. R. (2007). Neural responses to taxation and voluntary giving reveal motives for charitable donations. Science, 316(5831), 1622–1625.
Journey 12 · Legacy
Giving Lights Up Like Getting
In brain scans, giving money to charity engaged the same reward circuitry as receiving money. Even a forced, tax-like payment to charity did, and choosing to give did more.
Source: Giving and the brain’s reward system · Growing evidence
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