# Philanthropy is all in the mind

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/02/19/philanthropy-all-mind/
- Published: 2007-02-19T20:57:42+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

US scientists say that they have pinpointed the part of the brain that determines
how altruistic a person is. Staff at the The Duke University Medical Center say 
that our propensity to give without direct personal benefit is located in the posterior
superior temporal sulcus. Now, how are we going to squeeze that mouthful into our
recency, frequency, value analysis?

Of course, it’s not quite that straightforward. Dr Scott Huettel told the BBC: “
Although understanding the function of this brain region may not necessarily identify
what drives people like Mother Theresa, it may give clues to the origins of important
social behaviours like altruism.”

Still, kudos to the first fundraiser that works out how to stimulate that area of
the brain. Or is that what a good ask is all about anyway?

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

 * **[Only five days to go](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/02/26/only-five-days-go/)**(
   26 February 2007)
 * **[Royal Mail wants 6p increase on stamp price](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/02/27/royal-mail-wants-6p-increase-stamp-price/)**(
   27 February 2007)
 * **[Suggest session topics for London Region Conference Autumn 2007](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/03/06/suggest-session-topics-london-region-conference-autumn-2007/)**(
   6 March 2007)