Abstract
Human values are abstract ideals that motivate behavior. The motivational nature of human values raises the possibility that they might be underpinned by brain structures that are particularly involved in motivated behavior and reward processing. We hypothesized that variation in subcortical hubs of the reward system and their main connecting pathway, the superolateral medial forebrain bundle (slMFB) is associated with individual value orientation. We conducted Pearson's correlation between the scores of 10 human values and the volumes of 14 subcortical structures and microstructural properties of the medial forebrain bundle in a sample of 87 participants, correcting for multiple comparisons (i.e.,190). We found a positive association between the value that people attach to hedonism and the volume of the left globus pallidus (GP).We then tested whether microstructural parameters (i.e., fractional anisotropy and myelin volume fraction) of the slMFB, which connects with the GP, are also associated to hedonism and found a significant, albeit in an uncorrected level, positive association between the myelin volume fraction within the left slMFB and hedonism scores. This is the first study to elucidate the relationship between the importance people attach to the human value of hedonism and structural variation in reward-related subcortical brain regions.
Highlights
Human values motivate behavior and are a central element for the smooth functioning of societies
We investigated the association between the subcortical volume of 14 structures, as well as 5 microstructual properties of the superolateral medial forebrain bundle (slMFB), and the 10 human values
After a robust (Bonferroni) multiple comparison correction (i.e., 10 values x [14 subcortical structures + 5 slMFB measures]), we found that people who rated hedonism as important in their life had a larger globus pallidus (GP) in the left hemisphere, r(84) = 0.393, P(BONF) = 0.035 (Fig. 2) (P(UNCORR) = 0.000182)
Summary
Human values motivate behavior and are a central element for the smooth functioning of societies. Subsequent work (Rokeach 1973) emphasize that values should be assessed as idealized standards that have an “ought” character, rather than a mere assessment of subtle likes and dislikes toward occupations, and emphasized the relative importance between different values. Schwartz’s circular theory of values (Schwartz’s et al 1992, 2012) addresses 2 shortcomings of earlier value theories by identifying a culture-invariant set of values and by explaining how different human values relate to each. This model posits the existence of 10 values (Fig. 1), with each expressing certain motives. These motives are organized along 2 main dimensions. One dimension contrasts motives to promote the self (self-enhancement) against motives that transcend personal interests (self-transcendence), while the other dimension contrasts motives to follow the status quo (conservation) against motives to pursue personal intellectual and emotional interests in uncertain directions (openness)
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