The Helpful Brain

Dopamine

How Dopamine Affects Our Motivation to Help Others

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on October 28, 2025

New research shows patients with Parkinson's disease were more willing to help others after taking their dopamine-boosting medication.

New research shows patients with Parkinson's disease were more willing to help others after taking their dopamine-boosting medication.

Decision-Making

Do We Make Better Choices When It's All About Us?

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on November 27, 2024

Every day we make choices that affect us and choices that affect others. New research using animal behaviour reveals which we are better at and how choices link to autistic traits.

Every day we make choices that affect us and choices that affect others. New research using animal behaviour reveals which we are better at and how choices link to autistic traits.

Ethics and Morality

How Does Morality Develop and Differ as We Age?

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on August 16, 2024

Morality is a fundamental aspect of human experience. To address global challenges, we need to use science to understand how morality develops and differs across our lives.

Morality is a fundamental aspect of human experience. To address global challenges, we need to use science to understand how morality develops and differs across our lives.

Social Life

How Do We Decide to Leave a Social Interaction?

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on June 18, 2024

When should we leave a social interaction? Decisions to stop interacting are influenced by the environment we are in and whether people treat us fairly.

When should we leave a social interaction? Decisions to stop interacting are influenced by the environment we are in and whether people treat us fairly.

Adolescence

Effortful Helping in Teenagers at Risk for Psychopathy

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on May 10, 2024

New research reveals adolescents with conduct problems are less willing to help others. Actual helping also depended on callous-unemotional traits, a risk factor for psychopathy.

New research reveals adolescents with conduct problems are less willing to help others. Actual helping also depended on callous-unemotional traits, a risk factor for psychopathy.

Punishment

Do Adolescents Learn Better From Reward or Punishment?

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on December 7, 2023

Does learning from rewards and punishments differ from childhood to adolescence? Does our tendency to act change, too? We examine new research on adolescent learning.

Does learning from rewards and punishments differ from childhood to adolescence? Does our tendency to act change, too? We examine new research on adolescent learning.

Environment

How Extreme Heat Can Affect Your Mental Health

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on August 16, 2023

Feeling hot? The science behind how heatwaves change our mental health and how we can make a difference

Feeling hot? The science behind how heatwaves change our mental health and how we can make a difference

Boredom

Why We Get Bored and How to Overcome It

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on June 27, 2023

What is boredom? By understanding the latest science, we can take steps to overcome boredom and avoid the negative consequences it can have.

What is boredom? By understanding the latest science, we can take steps to overcome boredom and avoid the negative consequences it can have.

Environment

3 Ways Psychology Can Help to Reduce Climate Change

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on March 27, 2023

Psychology can help to reduce climate change by understanding motivation, mental health, and the spread of misinformation.

Psychology can help to reduce climate change by understanding motivation, mental health, and the spread of misinformation.

Education

The Science Behind Learning From Other People’s Advice

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on March 15, 2023

Should people learn from social advice or other sources? Our new research shows that humans find social advice more reliable. Here's why.

Should people learn from social advice or other sources? Our new research shows that humans find social advice more reliable. Here's why.

Education

Improve Your Academic Success This Year

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on February 3, 2023

Want to achieve academic success this year? Helping others could also be a way to help ourselves.

Want to achieve academic success this year? Helping others could also be a way to help ourselves.

Teamwork

The Science of Choosing Between Cooperation and Competition

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on December 16, 2022

How do you decide whether to cooperate or compete with others? New study reveals brain activity during social interactions.

How do you decide whether to cooperate or compete with others? New study reveals brain activity during social interactions.

Friends

4 Ways the Festive Season Can Bring People Together

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on December 5, 2022

How to strengthen your relationships and form new ones during the holidays.

How to strengthen your relationships and form new ones during the holidays.

Psychopathy

Understanding Antisocial Behaviour and Psychopathy

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on October 27, 2022

Defining and diagnosing disorders of antisocial behaviour or psychopathy can be highly controversial, but new advances in science might have the answer.

Defining and diagnosing disorders of antisocial behaviour or psychopathy can be highly controversial, but new advances in science might have the answer.

Adolescence

Why Do Teenagers Take More Risks?

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on September 30, 2022

Adolescence is often associated with dangerous risk-taking. Why is this period of life a time of risky and impulsive behaviors?

Adolescence is often associated with dangerous risk-taking. Why is this period of life a time of risky and impulsive behaviors?

Memory

How to Better Remember the Past

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on September 27, 2022

Forgetting things that are important? Go back to where they happened.

Forgetting things that are important? Go back to where they happened.

Persuasion

The Science Behind Social Influence

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on August 11, 2022

Why do we follow the crowd? Social influence improves our learning, but it can also backfire.

Why do we follow the crowd? Social influence improves our learning, but it can also backfire.

Health

3 Reasons You Want to Read This Post

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on June 29, 2022

How do we choose what information we want to know? The answer has implications for our mental health, physical health, and social relationships.

How do we choose what information we want to know? The answer has implications for our mental health, physical health, and social relationships.

Altruism

Are Poorer People More Generous?

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on June 21, 2022

If you have less, do you give more? Here are 3 ways that wealth affects generosity.

If you have less, do you give more? Here are 3 ways that wealth affects generosity.

Empathy

4 Reasons We Give to Charity

Patricia Lockwood, Ph.D., and Jo Cutler, Ph.D. on May 10, 2022

What motivates you to donate to good causes? Recent survey results and research in psychology highlight multiple possible reasons.

What motivates you to donate to good causes? Recent survey results and research in psychology highlight multiple possible reasons.