The common traits of wisdom appear to follow a universal path in the brain, according to a recent study conducted by Dr. Dilip V. Jeste of the department of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. Wisdom appears to be more than a subjective concept, but may actually be contained in certain brain circuits and pathways, suggests Dr. Jeste (any relation to David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest?), who compiled the first-ever review of the neurobiology of wisdom. He contends that this type of research could potentially lead to interventions for enhancing wisdom. It's widely agreed that wisdom includes six traits: empathy, compassion, altruism, self-understanding, emotional stability and pro-social attitudes, such as a tolerance for others' values, according to background information in a news release about the study.
But many questions about wisdom remain. Is it universal or culturally
based? Is it uniquely human? Is it related to age and experience? Can
it be taught?
"Defining wisdom is rather subjective, although there are many similarities in definition across time and cultures. However, our research suggests that there may be a basis in neurobiology for wisdom's most universal traits," the study authors said in the news release.
Jeste and his colleague, Dr. Thomas W. Meeks, studied existing articles, publications and other documents for the six attributes most commonly associated with wisdom and for the brain circuitry associated with those attributes. They found that these six traits are associated with heightened activity in several different areas of the brain. It appears that the neurobiology of wisdom involves an "optimal balance" between more primitive brain systems (notably the limbic system) and the more developed areas of the brain such as the neocoirtex, the researchers said.
"Understanding the neurobiology of wisdom may have considerable clinical significance, for example, in studying how certain disorders or traumatic brain injuries can affect traits related to wisdom," Jeste said. The study appears in the April 6 issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.
"Defining wisdom is rather subjective, although there are many similarities in definition across time and cultures. However, our research suggests that there may be a basis in neurobiology for wisdom's most universal traits," the study authors said in the news release.
Jeste and his colleague, Dr. Thomas W. Meeks, studied existing articles, publications and other documents for the six attributes most commonly associated with wisdom and for the brain circuitry associated with those attributes. They found that these six traits are associated with heightened activity in several different areas of the brain. It appears that the neurobiology of wisdom involves an "optimal balance" between more primitive brain systems (notably the limbic system) and the more developed areas of the brain such as the neocoirtex, the researchers said.
"Understanding the neurobiology of wisdom may have considerable clinical significance, for example, in studying how certain disorders or traumatic brain injuries can affect traits related to wisdom," Jeste said. The study appears in the April 6 issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.
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