The Social Brain Network and Human Moral Behavior

The moral nature of humanity has been debated and discussed by philosophers, theologians, and others for centuries. Only recently have neuroscientists and neuropsychologists joined the conversation by publishing a number of studies using newer brain scanning techniques directed at regions of the bra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zygon
Main Author: Shoemaker, William J. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2012
In: Zygon
Year: 2012, Volume: 47, Issue: 4, Pages: 806-820
Further subjects:B Autism
B Morality
B social brain
B prefrontal cortex
B limbic system
B prosopagnosia
B Psychopathology
B mirror neurons
B Moral Behavior
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
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Summary:The moral nature of humanity has been debated and discussed by philosophers, theologians, and others for centuries. Only recently have neuroscientists and neuropsychologists joined the conversation by publishing a number of studies using newer brain scanning techniques directed at regions of the brain related to social behavior. Is it possible to relate particular brain structures and functions to the behavior of people, deemed evil, who violate all the tenets of proper behavior laid down by ancient and holy texts, prohibiting lying, cheating, stealing, and murder? Is it possible that the recently discovered “mirror neurons” in the brain are the basis for empathy and that deficits in these brain cells lead to severe difficulty in relating socially to other people, including parents and siblings? What do we make of reports that the fusiform face area in the temporal lobe of the brain is specialized for the perception of faces and that defects in this region are seen regularly in individuals who are psychopathic.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.2012.01295.x