Abstract
BackgroundUnderstanding the neural basis of moral judgment (MJ) and human decision‐making has been the subject of numerous studies because of their impact on daily life activities and social norms. Here, we aimed to investigate the neural process of MJ using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a noninvasive, portable, and affordable neuroimaging modality.MethodsWe examined prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation in 33 healthy participants engaging in MJ exercises. We hypothesized that participants presented with personal (emotionally salient) and impersonal (less emotional) dilemmas would exhibit different brain activation observable through fNIRS. We also investigated the effects of utilitarian and nonutilitarian responses to MJ scenarios on PFC activation. Utilitarian responses are those that favor the greatest good while nonutilitarian responses favor moral actions. Mixed effect models were applied to model the cerebral hemodynamic changes that occurred during MJ dilemmas.Results and conclusionsOur analysis found significant differences in PFC activation during personal versus impersonal dilemmas. Specifically, the left dorsolateral PFC was highly activated during impersonal MJ when a nonutilitarian decision was made. This is consistent with the majority of relevant fMRI studies, and demonstrates the feasibility of using fNIRS, with its portable and motion tolerant capacities, to investigate the neural basis of MJ dilemmas.
Highlights
Moral judgment (MJ) is the process of evaluating what is right or wrong based on social norms (Jonathan, 2003; Prehn et al, 2007)
If subjects relied on more emotional processing to make a deci‐ sion, those scenarios were considered to be personal moral judgment (MJ) scenarios (Greene et al, 2004); if subjects relied on more cognitive process‐ ing, those scenarios were considered to be impersonal MJ
The classic Trolley Dilemma describes an impersonal MJ scenario in which a trolley is hurtling toward five workers on the track
Summary
Moral judgment (MJ) is the process of evaluating what is right or wrong based on social norms (Jonathan, 2003; Prehn et al, 2007). The other is to do nothing and allow the five workers to die In this scenario, studies show that most people respond that it is morally acceptable to flip the switch and save five lives at the expense of one. The par‐ ticipant can either push a man off a footbridge, in which his body weight would stop the course of the trolley and save five lives, or do nothing and allow five people to die In this scenario, most people choose not push the one man off the footbridge (Thomson, 1986), refusing to be directly responsible for one death at the expense of five indirectly. The left dorsolateral PFC was highly activated during impersonal MJ when a nonutilitarian decision was made This is consistent with the majority of relevant fMRI studies, and demonstrates the feasibility of using fNIRS, with its portable and motion tolerant capacities, to investi‐ gate the neural basis of MJ dilemmas
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