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Cited by 68Psychology of Moral and Emotional JudgmentNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Noradrenaline effects on social behaviour, intergroup relations, and moral decisions

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Terbeck, S., Savulescu, J., Chesterman, L.P., Cowen, P.J.·2016·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
DOI 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.031PMC PMC4899514
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Abstract

Recent research has begun to elucidate the neural basis of higher order social concepts, such as the mechanisms involved in intergroup relations, and moral judgments. Most theories have concentrated on higher order emotions, such as guilt, shame, or empathy, as core mechanisms. Accordingly, psychopharmacological and neurobiological studies have investigated the effects of manipulating serotonin or oxytocin activity on moral and social decisions and attitudes. However, recently it has been determined that changes in more basic emotions, such as fear and anger, might also have a significant role in social and moral cognition. This article summarizes psychopharmacological and fMRI research on the role of noradrenaline in higher order social cognition suggesting that indeed noradrenergic mediated affective changes might play key - and probably causal - role in certain social attitudes and moral judgments. Social judgments may also be directly influenced by numerous neurotransmitter manipulations but these effects could be mediated by modulation of basic emotions which appear to play an essential role in the formation of social concepts and moral behaviour.

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  • Catecholamines play diverse roles in host physiology, including the stress-induced fight-or-flight response, influencing gut integrity, and affecting host motivational behavior and decision-making.

    “Catecholamines play diverse roles in host physiology, ranging from the stress-induced fight-or-flight response (Starkman et al., 1990) to influencing gut integrity (Meddings and Swain, 2000) and affecting host motivational behavior as well as decision-making (Terbeck et al., 2016).”

    From The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (2019) · cites this paper as Terbeck et al., 2016

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Authors
Terbeck, S., Savulescu, J., Chesterman, L. P., & Cowen, P. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Plymouth (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Cygnet Healthcare Ltd (GB)
  • Warneford Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Terbeck, S.
ORCID
Venue
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-07
Volume
66
Pages
54-60
ISSN
0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.031
PMC
PMC4899514
OpenAlex
W2343856466
Cited by
68
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2
FWCI
0.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Liverpool John Moores University (acceptedVersion)
  • PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Wellcome Trust (086041)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
norepinephrine, social behavior, intergroup relations, moral judgment, social cognition, basic emotions, fear, anger, psychopharmacology, functional MRI, social attitudes
MeSH terms
Emotions, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Morals, Norepinephrine, Social Behavior

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