The neural basis of belief encoding and integration in moral judgment
Abstract
Moral judgment in the mature state depends on "theory of mind", or the capacity to attribute mental states (e.g., beliefs, desires, and intentions) to moral agents. The current study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the cognitive processes for belief attribution in moral judgment. Participants read vignettes in a 2x2x2 design: protagonists produced either a negative or neutral outcome, based on the belief that they were causing the negative outcome or the neutral outcome; presentation of belief information either preceded or followed outcome information. In each case, participants judged the moral permissibility of the action. The results indicate that while the medial prefrontal cortex is recruited for processing belief valence, the temporo-parietal junction and precuneus are recruited for processing beliefs in moral judgment via two distinct component processes: (1) encoding beliefs and (2) integrating beliefs with other relevant features of the action (e.g., the outcome) for moral judgment.
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The enhanced RTPJ response for attempted harms at the time of judgment appears to reflect enhanced mental state processing for negative moral judgments that rely exclusively on mental state information.
“The enhanced RTPJ response for attempted harms at the time of judgment appears to reflect enhanced mental state processing for negative moral judgments that rely exclusively on mental state information (9, 10)”
From Disruption of the right temporoparietal junction with transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces the role of beliefs in moral judgments (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
Activity in the RTPJ while participants make moral judgments about attempted and accidental harms shows the same asymmetry: greater activity for attempted than accidental harms.
“Activity in the RTPJ while participants make moral judgments about attempted and accidental harms shows the same asymmetry: greater activity for attempted than accidental harms (9, 10, 24, 25).”
From Disruption of the right temporoparietal junction with transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces the role of beliefs in moral judgments (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
When participants perform the current task in the scanner, the RTPJ shows two distinct phases of response: a high response to both attempted and accidental harms while participants are first reading the scenarios, and an enhanced response to attempted harms while participants are making moral judgments.
“When participants perform the current task in the scanner (i.e., read moral scenarios and then make moral judgments), the RTPJ shows two distinct phases of response: (i) a high response to both attempted and accidental harms while participants are first reading the scenarios and (ii) as described above, an enhanced response to attempted harms while participants are making moral judgments (10).”
From Disruption of the right temporoparietal junction with transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces the role of beliefs in moral judgments (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
Moral judgments of these scenarios are determined primarily by the belief.
“Moral judgments of these scenarios are determined primarily by the belief (9, 10).”
From Disruption of the right temporoparietal junction with transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces the role of beliefs in moral judgments (2010) · cites this paper as [10]
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- Authors
- Young, L., & Saxe, R.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Young, Liane
- Saxe, Rebecca
- Venue
- NeuroImage
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-05
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1912-1920
- ISSN
- 1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2122890368
- Cited by
- 277
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 42
- FWCI
- 10.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- NeuroImage (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- National Center for Research Resources (P41RR014075)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
- Keywords
- moral judgment, belief attribution, theory of mind, medial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, precuneus, moral permissibility, outcome information
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Culture, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Morals, Oxygen, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Prefrontal Cortex, Retrospective Moral Judgment
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