Brain Function and Decision-Making

Some study details are purposely omitted at this time to preserve scientific integrity. Now that the study is completed, full details are included below.

The true purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the two computer tasks that participants completed. Specifically, researchers wanted to know if they would be able to accurately measure motivated empathy. To better understand this, participants were asked to rate images of people expressing pain and were told that these were either students from their university or students from a different university. This was not the case. The faces shown were random images produced for a research study.

Researchers also wanted to know if they could accurately measure moral decision making and how those judgments relate to aggression. To examine this, participants were asked whether various scenarios were immoral and then asked about aggressive tendencies.

Inclusion criteria

• Undergraduate students aged 18 - 35 years of age
• No current or regular use of prescribed or illicit psychoactive drugs
• Free of major health problems (e.g., diabetes, HIV, Parkinson's disease)
• Free of a neurological or psychiatric disorders
• No current drug abuse (e.g., recreational drug use, average alcohol intake in excess of 4 drinks per day).
• Right hand dominant
• Free of claustrophobia
• Free of pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
• Absent MRI risk factors (e.g., implanted medical device, body mass index > 35, braces)
• Free of medical conditions that render individuals with overly sensitive hearing
• No colorblindness

Exclusion criteria

• Not meeting the inclusion criteria listed above.