Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic Interventions
ABSTRACT Introduction This study aimed to investigate neurophysiological differences between altruistic and selfish behaviors by simultaneously measuring electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG). Specifically, we hypothesized that altruistic behavior would be associated with distin...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70747 |
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| author | Junya Orui Keigo Shiraiwa Takao Inoue Masaya Ueda Keita Ueno Yasuo Naito Ryouhei Ishii |
| author_facet | Junya Orui Keigo Shiraiwa Takao Inoue Masaya Ueda Keita Ueno Yasuo Naito Ryouhei Ishii |
| author_sort | Junya Orui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Introduction This study aimed to investigate neurophysiological differences between altruistic and selfish behaviors by simultaneously measuring electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG). Specifically, we hypothesized that altruistic behavior would be associated with distinct patterns of cortical activity and autonomic responses. Methods Thirty‐one healthy participants (17 females; mean age: 20.00 ± 1.18 years) completed crafting tasks in a counterbalanced order under altruistic and selfish conditions. We measured and analyzed frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) scores, cardiac sympathetic index (CSI), and cardiac vagal index (CVI). Additionally, we used eLORETA (exact‐low resolution electromagnetic tomography) to examine current source density and functional connectivity patterns across brain regions. Results The altruistic condition exhibited significantly higher FAA scores (p = 0.031, r = 0.45) and lower CSI (p = 0.048, Cohen's d = 0.37) compared to the selfish condition. Notably, novel correlations were observed between neurophysiological measures and specific brain regions. Specifically, FAA scores were associated with gamma activity in the anterior cingulate cortex during the altruistic condition (p = 0.071) and with precuneus activity during selfish behavior (p = 0.029). Additionally, distinct functional connectivity patterns were associated with autonomic activity in the altruistic condition. Parasympathetic activity negatively correlated with temporal‐gamma connectivity (p = 0.002), and heart rate change negatively correlated with temporal‐prefrontal theta connectivity (p = 0.048). Conclusions Our findings reveal the intricate relationship between cortical activity, functional connectivity, and autonomic responses during altruistic versus selfish behaviors for the first time. This integrative approach sheds new light on the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition. This approach also has the potential to enhance our understanding of and ability to encourage prosocial behavior in various clinical and therapeutic settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a32a61c2cc774643b4f6c22dc7155206 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj-art-a32a61c2cc774643b4f6c22dc71552062025-08-22T05:32:03ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792025-08-01158n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70747Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic InterventionsJunya Orui0Keigo Shiraiwa1Takao Inoue2Masaya Ueda3Keita Ueno4Yasuo Naito5Ryouhei Ishii6Department of Health Science Osaka Health Science University Osaka JapanDepartment of Occupational Therapy Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science Habikino JapanDepartment of Occupational Therapy Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science Habikino JapanDepartment of Occupational Therapy Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science Habikino JapanDepartment of Occupational Therapy Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science Habikino JapanDepartment of Occupational Therapy Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science Habikino JapanDepartment of Occupational Therapy Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science Habikino JapanABSTRACT Introduction This study aimed to investigate neurophysiological differences between altruistic and selfish behaviors by simultaneously measuring electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG). Specifically, we hypothesized that altruistic behavior would be associated with distinct patterns of cortical activity and autonomic responses. Methods Thirty‐one healthy participants (17 females; mean age: 20.00 ± 1.18 years) completed crafting tasks in a counterbalanced order under altruistic and selfish conditions. We measured and analyzed frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) scores, cardiac sympathetic index (CSI), and cardiac vagal index (CVI). Additionally, we used eLORETA (exact‐low resolution electromagnetic tomography) to examine current source density and functional connectivity patterns across brain regions. Results The altruistic condition exhibited significantly higher FAA scores (p = 0.031, r = 0.45) and lower CSI (p = 0.048, Cohen's d = 0.37) compared to the selfish condition. Notably, novel correlations were observed between neurophysiological measures and specific brain regions. Specifically, FAA scores were associated with gamma activity in the anterior cingulate cortex during the altruistic condition (p = 0.071) and with precuneus activity during selfish behavior (p = 0.029). Additionally, distinct functional connectivity patterns were associated with autonomic activity in the altruistic condition. Parasympathetic activity negatively correlated with temporal‐gamma connectivity (p = 0.002), and heart rate change negatively correlated with temporal‐prefrontal theta connectivity (p = 0.048). Conclusions Our findings reveal the intricate relationship between cortical activity, functional connectivity, and autonomic responses during altruistic versus selfish behaviors for the first time. This integrative approach sheds new light on the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition. This approach also has the potential to enhance our understanding of and ability to encourage prosocial behavior in various clinical and therapeutic settings.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70747altruismautonomic activityelectroencephalographyfrontal alpha asymmetryneurophysiologysocial cognition |
| spellingShingle | Junya Orui Keigo Shiraiwa Takao Inoue Masaya Ueda Keita Ueno Yasuo Naito Ryouhei Ishii Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic Interventions Brain and Behavior altruism autonomic activity electroencephalography frontal alpha asymmetry neurophysiology social cognition |
| title | Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic Interventions |
| title_full | Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic Interventions |
| title_fullStr | Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic Interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic Interventions |
| title_short | Altruism Enhances Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Reduces Sympathetic Activity: A Multimodal EEG‐ECG Study With Implications for Therapeutic Interventions |
| title_sort | altruism enhances frontal alpha asymmetry and reduces sympathetic activity a multimodal eeg ecg study with implications for therapeutic interventions |
| topic | altruism autonomic activity electroencephalography frontal alpha asymmetry neurophysiology social cognition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70747 |
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