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Author Topic:   Still small voice of God found
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9486
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.6


Message 1 of 77 (789621)
08-17-2016 2:59 AM


quote:
Scientists from Oxford University and UCL have identified part of our brain that helps us learn to be good to other people. The discovery could help understanding of conditions like psychopathy where people's behaviour is extremely antisocial.
The researchers were led by Dr Patricia Lockwood, who explained: 'Prosocial behaviours are social behaviours that benefit other people. They are a fundamental aspect of human interactions, essential for social bonding and cohesion, but very little is currently known about how and why people do things to help others.
'Although people have a remarkable inclination to engage in prosocial behaviours there are substantial differences between individuals. Empathy, the capacity to vicariously experience and understand another person's feelings has been put forward as a critical motivator of prosocial behaviours, but we wanted to test why and how they might be linked.'
The scientists used a well-understood model of how people learn to maximise good outcomes for themselves and applied this model to understand how people learn to help others. While being scanned in a MRI machine, volunteers had to work out which symbols were more likely to give them, or someone else, a reward.
They found that while people readily learn to make choices that benefit other people, they do not learn it quite as fast as they learn to benefit themselves. However, they also identified a particular brain area involved in learning to get the best result for other people.
Dr Lockwood said: 'A specific part of the brain called the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex was the only part of the brain that was activated when learning to help other people. Put another way, the subgenual anterior cingulate seems to be especially tuned to benefiting other people.
'However, this region of the brain was not equally active in every person. People who rated themselves as having higher levels of empathy learnt to benefit others faster than those who reported having lower levels of empathy. They also showed increased signalling in their subgenual anterior cingulate cortex when benefitting others.'
'This the first time anyone has shown a particular brain process for learning prosocial behaviours -- and a possible link from empathy to learning to help others. By understanding what the brain does when we do things for other people, and individual differences in this ability, we are better placed to understand what is going wrong in those whose psychological conditions are characterised by antisocial disregard for others.'The
Scientists from Oxford University and UCL have identified part of our brain that helps us learn to be good to other people. The discovery could help understanding of conditions like psychopathy where people's behaviour is extremely antisocial.
The researchers were led by Dr Patricia Lockwood, who explained: 'Prosocial behaviours are social behaviours that benefit other people. They are a fundamental aspect of human interactions, essential for social bonding and cohesion, but very little is currently known about how and why people do things to help others.
'Although people have a remarkable inclination to engage in prosocial behaviours there are substantial differences between individuals. Empathy, the capacity to vicariously experience and understand another person's feelings has been put forward as a critical motivator of prosocial behaviours, but we wanted to test why and how they might be linked.'
The scientists used a well-understood model of how people learn to maximise good outcomes for themselves and applied this model to understand how people learn to help others. While being scanned in a MRI machine, volunteers had to work out which symbols were more likely to give them, or someone else, a reward.
They found that while people readily learn to make choices that benefit other people, they do not learn it quite as fast as they learn to benefit themselves. However, they also identified a particular brain area involved in learning to get the best result for other people.
Dr Lockwood said: 'A specific part of the brain called the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex was the only part of the brain that was activated when learning to help other people. Put another way, the subgenual anterior cingulate seems to be especially tuned to benefiting other people.
'However, this region of the brain was not equally active in every person. People who rated themselves as having higher levels of empathy learnt to benefit others faster than those who reported having lower levels of empathy. They also showed increased signalling in their subgenual anterior cingulate cortex when benefitting others.'
'This the first time anyone has shown a particular brain process for learning prosocial behaviours -- and a possible link from empathy to learning to help others. By understanding what the brain does when we do things for other people, and individual differences in this ability, we are better placed to understand what is going wrong in those whose psychological conditions are characterised by antisocial disregard for others.'
https://www.sciencedaily.com/...ses/2016/08/160815185612.htm

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Phat, posted 08-17-2016 8:44 AM Tangle has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18248
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 2 of 77 (789628)
08-17-2016 8:44 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Tangle
08-17-2016 2:59 AM


God In A Box
Way to put God in a box, Bro!
God created your brain long before you were even capable of figuring it out! That being said, this is/was useful information.
It explains why atheists as well as believers in false religions are even any good at all! Humans are capable of empathy. It is a gift.

Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. —RC Sproul
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain "
~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 2:59 AM Tangle has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 10:16 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied
 Message 4 by ringo, posted 08-17-2016 11:56 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9486
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.6


Message 3 of 77 (789631)
08-17-2016 10:16 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Phat
08-17-2016 8:44 AM


Re: God In A Box
Phat writes:
Humans are capable of empathy
No Phat, humans are incapable of NOT having empathy - unless there's something very wrong with them - psychopathy for example.
It is a gift
No again Phat, it's just another emotion like love, anger, happiness etc. These are necessary features - if we didn't have empathy our society would not work. It's simply another evolved trait.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Phat, posted 08-17-2016 8:44 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 4 of 77 (789638)
08-17-2016 11:56 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Phat
08-17-2016 8:44 AM


Re: God In A Box
Phat writes:
It is a gift.
It's the gift of evolution - like binocular vision and opposable thumbs.
Edited by ringo, : Phixed quote.
Edited by ringo, : Fixed quote again. Now it's twice as right.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Phat, posted 08-17-2016 8:44 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 5 by GDR, posted 08-17-2016 2:17 PM ringo has replied

  
GDR
Member
Posts: 6199
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005


(1)
Message 5 of 77 (789649)
08-17-2016 2:17 PM
Reply to: Message 4 by ringo
08-17-2016 11:56 AM


Re: God In A Box
ringo writes:
It's the gift of evolution
..and evolution is a gift - from God.

He has told you, O man, what is good ; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

This message is a reply to:
 Message 4 by ringo, posted 08-17-2016 11:56 AM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 6 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 4:29 PM GDR has replied
 Message 22 by ringo, posted 08-18-2016 12:47 PM GDR has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9486
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.6


Message 6 of 77 (789650)
08-17-2016 4:29 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by GDR
08-17-2016 2:17 PM


Re: God In A Box
GDR writes:
...and evolution is a gift - from God.
Good, can I take it from that comment that you now accept that empathy is an evolved trait and not a little voice in your head directly from god?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by GDR, posted 08-17-2016 2:17 PM GDR has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by jar, posted 08-17-2016 4:33 PM Tangle has replied
 Message 10 by GDR, posted 08-17-2016 5:12 PM Tangle has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 384 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 7 of 77 (789651)
08-17-2016 4:33 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by Tangle
08-17-2016 4:29 PM


Re: God In A Box
Tangle writes:
Good, can I take it from that comment that you now accept that empathy is an evolved trait and not a little voice in your head directly from god?
The two things are not mutually exclusive.

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios

This message is a reply to:
 Message 6 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 4:29 PM Tangle has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 8 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 4:40 PM jar has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9486
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.6


Message 8 of 77 (789652)
08-17-2016 4:40 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by jar
08-17-2016 4:33 PM


Re: God In A Box
Jar writes:
The two things are not mutually exclusive.
Well let's see. We have fMRI scans that show when and where the processing of empathy happens and can induce those feelings at will.
On the other hand we have what exactly?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 7 by jar, posted 08-17-2016 4:33 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 9 by jar, posted 08-17-2016 4:47 PM Tangle has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 384 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(1)
Message 9 of 77 (789653)
08-17-2016 4:47 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by Tangle
08-17-2016 4:40 PM


Re: God In A Box
Tangle writes:
Well let's see. We have fMRI scans that show when and where the processing of empathy happens and can induce those feelings at will.
On the other hand we have what exactly?
I have no idea what you have but I have a belief.

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 4:40 PM Tangle has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 11 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 5:23 PM jar has replied

  
GDR
Member
Posts: 6199
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005


Message 10 of 77 (789655)
08-17-2016 5:12 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by Tangle
08-17-2016 4:29 PM


Re: God In A Box
Tangle writes:
Good, can I take it from that comment that you now accept that empathy is an evolved trait and not a little voice in your head directly from god?
That still small voice is infectious the way it evolves eh.

He has told you, O man, what is good ; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

This message is a reply to:
 Message 6 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 4:29 PM Tangle has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 12 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 5:28 PM GDR has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9486
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.6


Message 11 of 77 (789657)
08-17-2016 5:23 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by jar
08-17-2016 4:47 PM


Re: God In A Box
Jar writes:
I have no idea what you have but I have a belief
What's that got to do with the price of fish?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by jar, posted 08-17-2016 4:47 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 13 by jar, posted 08-17-2016 5:45 PM Tangle has not replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9486
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.6


Message 12 of 77 (789658)
08-17-2016 5:28 PM
Reply to: Message 10 by GDR
08-17-2016 5:12 PM


Re: God In A Box
GDR writes:
That still small voice is infectious the way it evolves eh.
In as much as I have any clue what you mean, empathy is quite definitely infectious in that you catch it from your parents. Unless you're very unlucky.
So perhaps you could answer the question? Is empathy an evolved trait?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 10 by GDR, posted 08-17-2016 5:12 PM GDR has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by GDR, posted 08-17-2016 5:46 PM Tangle has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 384 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 13 of 77 (789660)
08-17-2016 5:45 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by Tangle
08-17-2016 5:23 PM


Re: God In A Box
Tangle writes:
What's that got to do with the price of fish?
I don't think it has anything to do with the price of fish, however it did answer the question you asked.

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 5:23 PM Tangle has not replied

  
GDR
Member
Posts: 6199
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005


(1)
Message 14 of 77 (789661)
08-17-2016 5:46 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by Tangle
08-17-2016 5:28 PM


Re: God In A Box
Tangle writes:
In as much as I have any clue what you mean, empathy is quite definitely infectious in that you catch it from your parents.
Of course. It is God's call on humans to infect the world with sacrificial love. That was Christ's message. You defeat the Romans by infecting them with love rather than trying to defeat them by military means.
The still small voice of God that is IMHO responsible for our conscience was there from the beginning, and so we feel a twinge of guilt when we make the wrong moral choice, although ultimately I suppose some people can push that so far into the background that is virtually silenced.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 5:28 PM Tangle has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by Tangle, posted 08-17-2016 6:07 PM GDR has replied
 Message 16 by jar, posted 08-17-2016 6:22 PM GDR has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9486
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.6


Message 15 of 77 (789662)
08-17-2016 6:07 PM
Reply to: Message 14 by GDR
08-17-2016 5:46 PM


Re: God In A Box
GDR writes:
The still small voice of God that is IMHO responsible for our conscience was there from the beginning, and so we feel a twinge of guilt when we make the wrong moral choice, although ultimately I suppose some people can push that so far into the background that is virtually silenced.
Do you see this brain function - which it is now demonstrated that is what empathy is - is somehow different from say, hate? Or any other emotion you care to mention? Is it only the brain function of empathy that is god given? If so, wither hate?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by GDR, posted 08-17-2016 5:46 PM GDR has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 18 by GDR, posted 08-17-2016 7:26 PM Tangle has replied

  
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