Research report 2013 - Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences

The maturation of the social brain

Authors
Steinbeis, Nikolaus
Departments
Abteilung Soziale Neurowissenschaft
Summary
In the course of child development one can observe an enormous wealth of significant changes in social behaviour. While initially selfish and impulsive behaviour may be dominant, prosociality increases with age. Until recently, the associated changes occurring in the brain were unknown. We now know, however, that the maturation of brain regions responsible for exerting behavioural control enables older children to do the right thing at the right time and override more immediate selfish impulses.

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