Eric Set

Damage to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex diminishes the impact of honesty motives on altruistic giving


Authors:

  • Lusha Zhu

  • Adrianna C. Jenkins

  • Eric Set

  • Robert T. Knight

  • Pearl H. Chiu

  • B.R. King-Casas

  • Ming Hsu

Date: 2014

DOI: 10.1038/nn.3798

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Abstract:

Substantial correlational evidence suggests that prefrontal regions are critical to honest and dishonest behavior, but causal evidence specifying the nature of this involvement remains absent. We found that lesions of the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) decreased the effect of honesty concerns on behavior in economic games that pit honesty motives against self-interest, but did not affect decisions when honesty concerns were absent. These results point to a causal role for DLPFC in honest behavior.