日本研究人員在最新出版的美國《科學》雜志上報告說,，他們確定了人類大腦中產(chǎn)生嫉妒和幸災樂禍情緒的區(qū)域,，并發(fā)現(xiàn)這兩種情緒密切相關(guān)。
日本放射醫(yī)學綜合研究所等機構(gòu)的研究人員讓接受測試的19名大學生閱讀能激發(fā)他們上述兩種情緒的故事,，并用功能磁共振成像儀測定他們腦部血流的變化,。在讀故事時，接受測試的人設定自己為故事中成績平平的主人公,，故事中另外還有ABC三個人物,。A與主人公同性別，人生道路和目標也幾乎相同,，但是成績優(yōu)秀,，家境富裕，很受異性歡迎,；B與主人公性別不同,，雖然更加優(yōu)秀，但是人生道路和目標沒有重疊,；C也與主人公性別不同,，成績普通,，人生道路和主人公也不同。
接受測試的大學生讀完故事后,，研究人員讓他們回答對出場人物ABC的嫉妒程度,，并將嫉妒的程度分為6個級別。答案顯示,，這些人對ABC的嫉妒程度依次遞減,。功能磁共振成像儀對腦部血流變化的測定結(jié)果顯示，對出場人物A,，接受測試者大腦前扣帶回皮層最為活躍,，而對B和C，這一大腦區(qū)域活躍程度依次遞減,。前扣帶回皮層被認為是大腦處理身體疼痛的區(qū)域,。
接著，研究人員讓這些大學生閱讀故事的續(xù)集,。在續(xù)集中,，出場人物ABC遇到了各種不幸事件。實驗結(jié)果表明,，在學生們對ABC不幸遭遇產(chǎn)生的幸災樂禍情緒程度依次遞減的同時,，其大腦紋狀體的活躍程度也在遞減。紋狀體通常被認為在獲得金錢回報或者社會認可時活躍,。
此外研究還證實,，19名接受測試者中，在產(chǎn)生嫉妒情緒時前扣帶回皮層的活動越活躍的人,，其產(chǎn)生幸災樂禍情緒時紋狀體的活躍程度就越高。
研究人員表示,，這項研究表明嫉妒與看到他人不幸后的自我滿足密切相關(guān),，該成果可應用于心理咨詢等。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Science 13 February 2009:Vol. 323. no. 5916, pp. 937 - 939 DOI: 10.1126/science.1165604
When Your Gain Is My Pain and Your Pain Is My Gain: Neural Correlates of Envy and Schadenfreude
Hidehiko Takahashi,1,2,3* Motoichiro Kato,4 Masato Matsuura,2 Dean Mobbs,5 Tetsuya Suhara,1 Yoshiro Okubo6
We often evaluate the self and others from social comparisons. We feel envy when the target person has superior and self-relevant characteristics. Schadenfreude occurs when envied persons fall from grace. To elucidate the neurocognitive mechanisms of envy and schadenfreude, we conducted two functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. In study one, the participants read information concerning target persons characterized by levels of possession and self-relevance of comparison domains. When the target person's possession was superior and self-relevant, stronger envy and stronger anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activation were induced. In study two, stronger schadenfreude and stronger striatum activation were induced when misfortunes happened to envied persons. ACC activation in study one predicted ventral striatum activation in study two. Our findings document mechanisms of painful emotion, envy, and a rewarding reaction, schadenfreude.
1 Department of Molecular Neuroimaging, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 9-1, 4-chome, Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555, Japan.
2 Department of Life Sciences and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, 113-8549, Japan.
3 Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.
4 Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
5 Medical Research Council (MRC)–Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK.
6 Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan.
