Giving Is As Good As Sex

By Helen Potter

Scientists investigating whether the brain has a 'moral compass' have found that generosity is not a matter of morality – humans are wired up to feel good about being unselfish.

Researchers Jorge Moll and Jordan Grafman of the National Institute of Health in Washington scanned the brains of volunteers who were asked to think of either giving a large sum of money to charity or keeping it for themselves.

Surprisingly, they found that altruism lit up a primitive part of the human brain mostly stimulated by food and sex, leading to the conclusion that we're built to be generous.

Maybe early man gave food in exchange for nookie? Or was early woman gave nookie in exchange for food?

They might not as good as sex, but it will be less embarrassing if you get caught by your boss enjoying Helen's other articles at your desk. Alternatively you might like to sneak off to the stationery cupboard with these lovely links: