Exploring How Our Brains Shape Our Values
In this article excerpt, editors of " The Neurobiology of Values" introduce a new collection of articles that explores the intricate relationship between our brains and social behavior, aiming to integrate prosocial values into neurology research and practice. The original article, published in Frontiers, is available to view here.
![A shot of a grandmother and her grandson embracing while sitting on the sofa, both smiling broadly.](/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images/2024-04/GettyImages-1906807405.jpg?itok=xZ_GuXRf)
In recent years, the study of neurology and its implications for health equity has undergone significant development and progress. As our understanding of the brain continues to evolve, there's a growing desire to better understand the biology of social behavior and to integrate prosocial values into neurology research and practice. As editors, our aim is to explore fundamental questions: What do we mean by "values," and how do they impact the brain? The resulting collection of articles, titled "The Neurobiology of Values," takes a profound dive into how our brains shape and influence our values. This editorial aims to outline the main goals of the research in the collection, summarizing important discoveries and putting them into a broader perspective.
Social Engagement and Brain Health
In their perspective, “One step beyond the lab and clinic: “walking the dementia conversation,” Zegarra-Valdivia et al. take a bold step beyond the lab and clinic bringing together researchers, caregivers, and patients to "walk the talk" for dementia. This article not only shifts the focus from pathology to conversation but also emphasizes the importance of community engagement and real-world discussions in shaping our understanding of brain health and values.
Fitri et al. highlight the profound impact of empathy as a crucial skill in disrupting disparities in global brain health. This research advocates for a collective approach to address global mental health challenges, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.
Ibanez et al. pose a compelling question in "Can prosocial values improve brain health?" Here, the focus shifts to the symbiotic relationship between prosocial values and the well-being of the brain, holding promises for advancing preventative and intervention strategies.
Berendzen's exploration of social attachment as a window into the neural basis of prosocial values offers valuable insights into the emotional underpinnings of our social behaviors. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge surrounding empathy, cooperation, and the neural substrates that facilitate prosocial behavior.
Cultural Perspectives on Brain Health
Stirland et al. invite us to consider the cultural basis of authenticity and leadership in brain health, prompting reflections on how cultural nuances influence cognitive well-being. The article further examines how societal values, when aligned with principles of respect and equity, contribute to overall cognitive health.
Hill-Jarrett invites us to explore "The Black radical imagination: a space of hope and possible futures," encouraging a departure from conventional perspectives. The cultural and social dimensions explored in this article inspire a reevaluation of the intersections between culture, identity, and brain health, challenging us to recognize the rich diversity of experiences that shape our values
Person-Centered Approaches in Brain Health
Merrilees et al. shift attitudes toward aging, dementia, and caregiving by using personal narrative to promote person-centered values. Through the integration of personal stories, this research transcends traditional academic boundaries, providing a humanistic perspective on brain health and values.
Kaczmarska adds a unique rhythm to the collection. Through the lens of dance, this research perspective not only offers insights into potential therapeutic avenues for those with dementia but also underscores the profound connection between embodiment and the brain. It highlights the significance of physical experiences in shaping our cognitive landscapes and the potential therapeutic benefits of embodied practices in promoting brain health and well-being.
This article excerpt is republished with permission from Frontiers, an open access publisher. See the full article | View Frontiers Research Topic
Authors
![Niall Kavanagh](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Niall-Kavanagh.jpg?h=4fdc9b48&itok=g_RHENER)
Niall Kavanagh
Communications Officer
![Caroline Prioleau](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/2022-09_CarolinePrioleau_1MB.jpg?h=17c011e4&itok=Ih3vCqB4)
Caroline Prioleau
Writer & Designer
![Bruce Miller](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Bruce%20Miller.jpg?h=3334e0bf&itok=3zITuREU)
Bruce Miller, MD
Founding Director, University of California, San Francisco
GBHI Members Mentioned
![Maison Abu Raya](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Maison%20Abu%20Raya.jpg?h=b4f6af6b&itok=kcgQpVof)
Maison Abu Raya, MD
Neurologist
![Fernando Peres](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Fernando%20Peres_0.jpg?h=c017fd5c&itok=x7MdFPwe)
Fernando Aguzzoli Peres
Journalist & Writer
![Faheem Arshad](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Faheem_Arshad.jpg?h=2d4a2031&itok=sU9iDe79)
Faheem Arshad, MD, DM, FICN
Neurologist
![Thiago J. Avelino-Silva](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Thiago%20Silva.jpeg?h=66774fc2&itok=gnmQZdNA)
Thiago Avelino-Silva, MD, PhD
Academic Geriatrician
![Biniyam Ayele headshot 2022](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/IMG-5075.jpg?h=b7a7d940&itok=pv4HWxyB)
Biniyam Ayele, MD
Neurologist
![Yavuz Ayhan](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Yavuz%20Ayhan%20%281%29.jpg?h=a5ac4bf3&itok=ld5lUw8r)
Yavuz Ayhan, MD
Psychiatrist
![Zach Bandler](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Zach%20Bandler.jpg?h=d77c7e0a&itok=aazwlZM9)
Zach Bandler
Film Director and Screenwriter
![Alissa Bernstein](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/alissa_bernstein.jpg?h=bade9c6d&itok=rPEdJAXY)
Alissa Bernstein, PhD, MPH, MA
Medical Anthropologist, Assistant Professor
![Jake Broder](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Jake%20Broder.jpg?h=4c0bbab8&itok=_b0lfnS-)
Jake Broder, MA
Playwright, Actor, Screenwriter, Musician
Alison Canty, PhD, GradCert UL&T, BSc
Neuroscientist
![Melissa Chan](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/melissa.jpg?h=07e5f291&itok=HkJbTvEv)
Melissa Chan
Service Designer and Social Entrepreneur
![Winston Chiong](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/winston_chiong.jpg?h=87136cbf&itok=Sd2mPW31)
Winston Chiong, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology
![Marcia Cominetti](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Marcia-resized.jpg?h=3fa99922&itok=lcMCQNa_)
Marcia Cominetti, PhD
Biologist
![Cathy Correa Lopera](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Cathy%20Correa%20Lopera.jpg?h=48bdf816&itok=vp4o9eMY)
Cathy Correa Lopera, M.Mus.
Music and Movement Educator
![tselmen daria](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/tselmen_daria.jpeg?h=64697902&itok=zvKa0qrW)
Tselmen Daria, MD
Clinical Scientist
![Jayashree Dasgupta headshot Mexico](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Jayashree%20Dasgupta_152.jpg?h=cf60748c&itok=PYoqJglH)
Jayashree Dasgupta, PhD, MPhil
Clinical Psychologist and Social Entrepreneur
![Vanessa De la Cruz-Gongora](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Vanessa%20De%20la%20Cruz-Gongora.png?h=f540532c&itok=CMo7Uq85)
Vanessa De la Cruz-Góngora, PhD
Dietitian, Lecturer and Researcher
![Shaimaa El Jaafary](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Shaimaa%20El%20Jaafary.jpg?h=0e0ebe45&itok=2fmKK1xj)
Shaimaa El-Jaafary, PhD, MSC, MBBCH
Neurologist, Movement Disorders Specialist
![Sol Fittipaldi](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Sol%20Fittipaldi%202024.jpg?h=4a98be2b&itok=dwX5QLxU)
Sol Fittipaldi, PhD
Neuroscientist
![Joyla Furlano headshot Mexico](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Joyla%20Furlano_132.jpg?h=83cf42dd&itok=p7d2ZF2w)
Joyla Furlano, PhD
Neuroscientist
![Tanisha Hill-Jarrett](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Tanisha%20Hill-Jarrett.jpeg.jpg?h=69b1f1b9&itok=fg9Z1aye)
Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, PhD
Neuropsychologist
![Gillian Fallon headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-415%20%281%29.jpg?h=74245973&itok=OHihLPBQ)
Gillian Fallon, MA, MFA
Arts administrator, curator, producer
![Dominic Gately](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Dominic-resized.jpg?h=047edc94&itok=Odfkko2C)
Dominic Gately
Actor, writer and theater-maker
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Muthoni Gichu, MB.Ch.B, MSc
Medical gerontologist and researcher
![Sandra Gimenez headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Sandra%20Gimenez%20%281%29.jpg?h=995a47a8&itok=hMjIGlYF)
Sandra Giménez, MD, PhD
Clinical Neurophysiologist
![Raquel Gutiérrez Zúñiga](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Raquel_0.jpg?h=b1f3e0cd&itok=xji5XIEu)
Raquel Gutiérrez Zúñiga, MD, PhD
Neurologist
Aline Haas, PhD
Dancer, Researcher
![Rafi Hadad headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-1.jpg?h=97a6fbd8&itok=rONwe6Cj)
Rafi Hadad, MD
Neurologist
![Agustín Ibáñez,](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Agustin-resized.jpg?h=ad4dead1&itok=s-eQo7_6)
Agustín Ibáñez, PhD
Neuroscientist
![Maryenela Illanes-Manrique headshot 2022](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Illanes-Manrique%2C%20Maryenela%20%281%29.jpg?h=1ca2f2d2&itok=0GW12lbT)
Maryenela Illanes-Manrique, MD
Psychiatrist
![Fasihah Irfani](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Fifi.jpg?h=4b722f14&itok=N1pot0C-)
Fasihah Irfani, MD
Neurologist
![Magda Kaczmarska](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/MagdaKaczmarska.jpeg?h=ed3a400d&itok=rnOigGnD)
Magda Kaczmarska, MFA
Dance Artist
![Rabia Khalaila headshot 2022](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Rabia%20Picture2.jpeg?h=6eec4ff5&itok=Z_jqywKX)
Rabia Khalaila, PhD, MPH, MBA
Academic Nurse and Gerontologist
![Alex Kornhuber](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/alex_kornhuber.jpg?h=0ec441f2&itok=JHkYiThV)
Alex Kornhuber
Photographer
![Joel Kramer](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Joel_Kramer.jpg?h=17c4d544&itok=WDjIGUzD)
Joel Kramer, PsyD
Professor of Neuropsychology
![Carmen Lage headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-469%20%281%29.jpg?h=776aaa02&itok=yys6G590)
Carmen Lage, MD, PhD
Behavioral Neurologist
![Brian Lawlor](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/brian-lawlor.png?h=bc3dcdbc&itok=clmeu0JZ)
Brian Lawlor, MD, FRCPI, FRCPsych
Site Director, Trinity College Dublin
![Luis Martinez headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-455%20%281%29.jpg?h=4785a921&itok=nqlfEDhP)
Luis Martinez, MD, MPH
Neurologist and Clinical Researcher
![Melinda Matice](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Melinda%20Matice.jpg?h=87136cbf&itok=SMSBUTtc)
Mindy Matice, MA
Curriculum Manager
![Grainne McGettrick](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Grainne%20McGettrick.jpg?h=01281d04&itok=nbbUWjtZ)
Gráinne McGettrick, MA
Social Scientist
![Jennifer Merrilees, RN, PhD](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/JenniferMerrilees_2021_1100px.jpg?h=947fc1b2&itok=dwzQOdgq)
Jennifer Merrilees, RN, PhD
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Geriatrics
![Bruce Miller](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Bruce%20Miller.jpg?h=3334e0bf&itok=3zITuREU)
Bruce Miller, MD
Founding Director, University of California, San Francisco
![Paul Modjadji](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Paul-resized.jpg?h=2565a842&itok=yhri9rr5)
Paul Modjadji
Artist
![Tatyana Mollayeva](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/TMollayeva.jpg?h=75a2d558&itok=Rg4hXQMJ)
Tatyana Mollayeva, MD, PhD
Scientist and Assistant Professor
![Khanyo Ngcobo](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Khanyo-resized.jpg?h=d20827dc&itok=YNJcKGWY)
Khanyo Ngcobo, MBChB, FcPsych, MMed
Psychiatrist
Kim-Huong Nguyen, PhD, MSc
Economist
![Rafal Nowak headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-308%20%281%29.jpg?h=6c067cd5&itok=u0PlfFPC)
Rafal Nowak, PhD
Neuroscientist
![mick o'kelly](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/mick_o_kelly.jpg?h=f1376a39&itok=VaXvOj1T)
Mick O'Kelly, PhD, MFA, BFA
Artist
![Chukwuanugo Ogbuagu](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-430%20%281%29.jpg?h=4fd079d9&itok=RIMNyJuX)
Chukwuanugo Ogbuagu, MBBS, PhD, MWACP
Public Health Physician and Lecturer
![Doyin Ogunyemi headshot 2022](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Ogunyemi%2C%20Doyin%20%281%29.jpg?h=d2dc154e&itok=L1Y7XTkY)
Doyin Ogunyemi, MBBS, MA, FWACP
Public Health Physician
![Caroline Prioleau](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/2022-09_CarolinePrioleau_1MB.jpg?h=17c011e4&itok=Ih3vCqB4)
Caroline Prioleau
Writer & Designer
![Kate Rankin headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Rankin_Kate.jpg?h=5f1737a1&itok=U7vniJ2J)
Kate Rankin, PhD
Professor of Neuropsychology
![Ian Robertson](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Ian%20Robertson.jpg?h=9685afe8&itok=nxJtKwn7)
Ian Robertson, MPhil, PhD, FTCD
Founding Director, Trinity College Dublin
![moise roche](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/moise_roche.jpg?h=8ab5961e&itok=pgMSydxl)
Moïse Roche, MSc
Researcher in Dementia
![Veronica Rojas headshot 2022](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Rojas%2C%20Ver%C3%B3nica%20%281%29.jpg?h=dd0ce580&itok=nbP9UqBB)
Verónica Rojas, MFA
Artist
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Hernando Santamaría-García, MD, MSc, PhD
Psychiatrist and Researcher
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Cristiano Schaffer Aguzzoli, MD
Neurologist
![Erin Smith headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-410%20%282%29.jpg?h=a06483b2&itok=rL0WEFTw)
Erin Smith
Creative technologist
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Lucy Stirland, MBChB, PhD, MRCPsych
Old Age Psychiatrist and Researcher
![Virginia-Sturm](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Virginia-Sturm.jpg?h=7cc21098&itok=m3Vdqisu)
Virginia Sturm, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry
![Natalia Trujillo 2023](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/GBHI_2023-Conference-Photos_107%20%282%29.jpg?h=bc59260c&itok=jiz4Zh8y)
Natalia Trujillo, PhD
Psychologist
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Anusha Yasoda-Mohan, PhD
Neuroscientist
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So Young Shin, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC
Nursing Professor, Researcher, Educator
![Victor Valcour](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Victor%20Valcour.jpg?h=88b1f798&itok=-hX5KIpa)
Victor Valcour, MD, PhD
Site Director, University of California, San Francisco
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Valentine Ucheagwu, PhD
Neuropsychologist
![Chi Udeh-Momoh](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Chi%20Udeh-Momoh.jpg?h=44ca2865&itok=ZhNUFy97)
Chi Udeh-Momoh, PhD, MSc, FHEA
Translational Neuroscientist
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Selam Yoseph, MD
Psychiatrist
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Jonathan Adrián Zegarra Valdivia, PhD
Neuroscientist
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Yared Zewde, MD
Neurologist