Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Oscillatory correlates of moral decision-making : Effect of personality. / Knyazev, Gennady G.; Savostyanov, Alexander N.; Bocharov, Andrey V. et al.
In: Social Neuroscience, Vol. 11, No. 3, 03.05.2016, p. 233-248.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Oscillatory correlates of moral decision-making
T2 - Effect of personality
AU - Knyazev, Gennady G.
AU - Savostyanov, Alexander N.
AU - Bocharov, Andrey V.
AU - Dorosheva, Elena A.
AU - Tamozhnikov, Sergey S.
AU - Saprigyn, Alexander E.
PY - 2016/5/3
Y1 - 2016/5/3
N2 - The role of emotion in moral decision-making is still a matter of debate. Greene, Sommerville, Nystrom, Darley, and Cohen (2001) argue that ‘personal’ moral judgments are driven by emotional responses, while ‘impersonal’ judgments are largely driven by cognitive processes. In this study, oscillatory correlates of decision-making were compared in moral personal, moral impersonal, and nonmoral conditions, as well as in trials associated with utilitarian (i.e., favoring the ‘greater good’ over individual rights) and non-utilitarian choices. Event-related synchronization in delta and theta bands was greater in the right temporal lobe in personal than in both nonmoral and impersonal moral condition. Graph-theoretical analysis of connectivity patterns showed the prominent role of the orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices in personal moral decision-making, implying greater emotional and self-processing. Higher conscientiousness and intellect and lower behavioral activation were associated with greater difference in oscillatory responses between utilitarian and non-utilitarian choices in personal than in impersonal condition, indicating that sensitivity to moral issues and the ability to grasp the nuances of moral situation are essential for understanding the implications of utilitarian choices in personal and impersonal conditions.
AB - The role of emotion in moral decision-making is still a matter of debate. Greene, Sommerville, Nystrom, Darley, and Cohen (2001) argue that ‘personal’ moral judgments are driven by emotional responses, while ‘impersonal’ judgments are largely driven by cognitive processes. In this study, oscillatory correlates of decision-making were compared in moral personal, moral impersonal, and nonmoral conditions, as well as in trials associated with utilitarian (i.e., favoring the ‘greater good’ over individual rights) and non-utilitarian choices. Event-related synchronization in delta and theta bands was greater in the right temporal lobe in personal than in both nonmoral and impersonal moral condition. Graph-theoretical analysis of connectivity patterns showed the prominent role of the orbitofrontal and cingulate cortices in personal moral decision-making, implying greater emotional and self-processing. Higher conscientiousness and intellect and lower behavioral activation were associated with greater difference in oscillatory responses between utilitarian and non-utilitarian choices in personal than in impersonal condition, indicating that sensitivity to moral issues and the ability to grasp the nuances of moral situation are essential for understanding the implications of utilitarian choices in personal and impersonal conditions.
KW - Connectivity
KW - EEG
KW - Moral dilemmas
KW - Personality
KW - Source localization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938651512&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17470919.2015.1072110
DO - 10.1080/17470919.2015.1072110
M3 - Article
C2 - 26167937
AN - SCOPUS:84938651512
VL - 11
SP - 233
EP - 248
JO - Social Neuroscience
JF - Social Neuroscience
SN - 1747-0919
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 25349327