title: Asymmetric frontal brain activity and parental rejection predict altruistic behavior: moderation of oxytocin effects.
abstract: Asymmetric frontal brain activity has been widely implicated in reactions to emotional stimuli and is thought to reflect individual differences in approach-withdrawal motivation. Here, we investigate whether asymmetric frontal activity, as a measure of approach-withdrawal motivation, also predicts charitable donations after a charity's (emotion-eliciting) promotional video showing a child in need is viewed, in a sample of 47 young adult women. In addition, we explore possibilities for mediation and moderation, by asymmetric frontal activity, of the effects of intranasally administered oxytocin and parental love withdrawal on charitable donations. Greater relative left frontal activity was related to larger donations. In addition, we found evidence of moderation: Low levels of parental love withdrawal predicted larger donations in the oxytocin condition for participants showing greater relative right frontal activity. We suggest that when approach motivation is high (reflected in greater relative left frontal activity), individuals are generally inclined to take action upon seeing someone in need and, thus, to donate money to actively help out. Only when approach motivation is low (reflected in less relative left/greater relative right activity) do empathic concerns affected by oxytocin and experiences of love withdrawal play an important part in deciding about donations.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Renske
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huffmeijer
authors.forename: Lenneke R A
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Alink
authors.forename: Mattie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tops
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakermans-Kranenburg
authors.forename: Marinus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van IJzendoorn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000533:Altruism; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017008:Negotiating / Q000523:psychology; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin