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Tryptophan promotes charitable donating.

Laura Steenbergen1, Roberta Sellaro1, Lorenza S Colzato1

  • 1Cognitive Psychology Unit, Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Leiden, Netherlands.

Frontiers in Psychology
|January 8, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

L-Tryptophan (TRP), a precursor to serotonin (5-HT), was investigated for its effect on charitable giving. TRP supplementation significantly increased participants' willingness to donate to charity compared to a placebo.

Keywords:
charityserotonintryptophan

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Economics
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Serotonin (5-HT) is crucial for prosocial behaviors, but its direct link to charity remains understudied.
  • L-Tryptophan (TRP) is the biochemical precursor to serotonin, suggesting a potential pathway to modulate behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if L-Tryptophan (TRP) supplementation can enhance charitable donating behavior.
  • To explore the role of serotonin (5-HT) pathways in modulating prosocial financial decisions.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, placebo-controlled study design was employed.
  • Participants received either L-Tryptophan (TRP) or a neutral placebo.
  • Donation amounts to a charity were measured and compared between groups.

Main Results:

  • L-Tryptophan (TRP) administration led to a significant increase in charitable donations compared to the placebo group.
  • This suggests TRP influences the willingness to engage in prosocial financial behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary intake, specifically L-Tryptophan (TRP), can act as a cognitive enhancer influencing charitable giving.
  • This research supports the modulatory effect of nutrition on complex prosocial behaviors and decision-making.