The virtue of temperance: a neurobiological perspective

The virtue of temperance is a unique psychological characteristic that has been long regarded as a positive quality throughout many cultures. While it is colloquially recognized and appreciated, the neural underpinnings of temperance remain largely unexplored. In order to better understand the positive influence of this virtue, it would be useful to explore the following components of temperance: forgiveness, humility, prudence and emotional self-regulation. Our review outlines a theorized model connecting these components to specific neuroanatomical locations and overall psychological effects to highlight the areas of the brain associated with temperance.

In reviewing the literature regarding the four components of temperance, a neurobiological model of temperance is proposed. Each component was analyzed independently, combining findings from various neuroimaging studies deemed relevant to the virtue of temperance.

Our neurobiological model for temperance highlights the intricate balance required between various reasoning areas of the brain and emotional centres. The reasoning areas of the brain involved with temperance include the following: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex located within the middle frontal gyrus, ventral/medial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobule, supramarginal gyrus, temporoparietal junction, medial parietal cortex, and reduced activity of the posterior cingulate cortex. The emotional centers involved in temperance include the orbitofrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, dorsal/ventral cingulate regions, PFC-hippocampal-amygdala circuitry, paralimbic network and autonomic processes including the vagus nerve, sympathetic response and neuroendocrine systems. Namely, the vmPFC and dlPFC display significant overlap in relevant neurobiology and together represent all 4 components of temperance.

This review aims to open a scientific dialog about the virtue of temperance by defining positive psychological qualities and neurobiological activity of temperance in the human mind. Viewing temperance through the lens of neuroplasticity, is it suggested that the practice of temperance may alleviate symptoms across numerous mental disorders and even aid in disease prevention. Future work should utilize neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI/MRI and molecular transmission studies to examine each component more precisely and define areas of interaction between components. In doing so, the neural underpinnings of temperance proposed in this model can be refined to outline a dynamic pathway with targets for clinical intervention.