Scientists have found that mild electric brain stimulation may reduce selfish behavior in people, offering fresh insight into how specific brain networks influence altruistic decision-making.
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Zurich, researchers temporarily reduced selfish tendencies in volunteers by applying a weak electrical current to two key areas of the brain linked to empathy and decision-making.
The study recruited 44 participants who were asked to divide a sum of money between themselves and a stranger. While the participants were making their decisions, scientists stimulated the frontal and parietal regions of their brains using non-invasive electrical techniques. The results showed that those who received stimulation were more likely to donate a larger share of the money.
Lead author Professor Christian Ruff said the changes were modest but consistent. “Statistically, there was a clear increase in the participants’ willingness to pay,” he told, noting that while the effects were not dramatic, the pattern was reliable across participants.
The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal PLoS Biology, adding scientific weight to the claim that targeted brain stimulation can influence social behavior.
Researchers explained that the two brain regions stimulated in the experiment are known to play a role in empathy, perspective-taking, and complex decision-making. In an earlier study involving the same money-sharing task, scientists had observed that these regions appeared to “communicate” more actively when participants made less selfish choices. However, that research only showed correlation.
This latest experiment aimed to establish direct cause and effect.
Co-author Jie Hu from East China Normal University said the study provided new evidence in that regard. “What’s new here is evidence of cause and effect. When we altered communication in a specific brain network using targeted, non-invasive stimulation, people’s sharing decisions changed,” Hu explained.
Despite the promising findings, researchers emphasized that the effect of a single stimulation session was temporary. Professor Ruff compared the process to physical exercise. “To bring about a long-term change, you have to do it again and again,” he said. “One workout will not make you fit, but if you go to the gym twice a week for two months, your body will change. This is the same.”
The study also raises the possibility of future medical applications. Scientists believe that such technology could one day help treat brain disorders that impair social behavior. Ruff pointed out that some individuals struggle with serious social difficulties due to a limited ability to understand others’ perspectives, which can manifest as extreme self-centeredness.
However, experts caution that the technology is still in its early stages and requires extensive research before it could be applied clinically or ethically in broader society.
Interestingly, participants reported only mild sensations during the experiment. One volunteer described the feeling as “like a warm shower or small drops of rain” and said they did not believe the stimulation influenced their choices at the time.
While the findings do not suggest a quick fix for selfishness, they offer compelling scientific evidence that human generosity and empathy are deeply rooted in measurable brain activity — and that these networks can be influenced, at least temporarily, through carefully controlled stimulation.
