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Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience ·

Volume 2 - 2010 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnevo.2010.00110

Hemispheric Asymmetries during Processing of Immoral Stimuli

  • Lora M. Cope1,2
  • Jana Schaich Borg3,4
  • Carla L. Harenski1
  • Walter Sinnott-Armstrong5
  • Debra Lieberman6*corresponding author
  • Prashanth K. Nyalakanti1
  • Vince D. Calhoun1,7,8
  • Kent A. Kiehl1,2,8*corresponding author
  1. 11 Mind Research Network Albuquerque, NM, USA
  2. 22 Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, USA
  3. 33 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA, USA
  4. 44 Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA, USA
  5. 55 Department of Philosophy, Duke University Durham, NC, USA
  6. 66 Department of Psychology, University of Miami Coral Gables, FL, USA
  7. 77 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, USA
  8. 88 Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Abstract

Evolutionary approaches to dissecting our psychological architecture underscore the importance of both function and structure. Here we focus on both the function and structure of our neural circuitry and report a functional bilateral asymmetry associated with the processing of immoral stimuli. Many processes in the human brain are associated with functional specialization unique to one hemisphere. With respect to emotions, most research points to right-hemispheric lateralization. Here we provide evidence that not all emotional stimuli share right-hemispheric lateralization. Across three studies employing different paradigms, the processing of negative morally laden stimuli was found to be highly left -lateralized. Regions of engagement common to the three studies include the left medial prefrontal cortex, left temporoparietal junction, and left posterior cingulate. These data support the hypothesis that processing of immoral stimuli preferentially engages left hemispheric processes and sheds light on our evolved neural architecture.

Keywords

References

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Citation

Cope, L. M., et al. (2010). Hemispheric Asymmetries during Processing of Immoral Stimuli. Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience, Volume 2. https://doi.org/
Received
Accepted
Published
Volume
2 - 2010

Copyright

Copyright © 2010 Cope, Schaich Borg, Harenski, Sinnott-Armstrong, Lieberman, Nyalakanti, Calhoun and Kiehl.

License: http://www.frontiersin.org/licenseagreement

*Correspondence: Debra Lieberman; Kent A. Kiehl

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