The joy of giving has been given a scientific basis by neurologists who have discovered that making a charitable donation heightened activity in the midbrains of 20 respondents (Daily Telegraph).

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has pointed out that the midbrain is also involved in producing the same warm glow that comes from having sex or food, and that something in the human brain has been shaped by evolution to allow a similar joy to be felt when something helpful to someone else is done.

Question is, given that joy-rewards from food and sex are essential for the survival and propagation of any species could it be that joy from helping others is also a built-in survival essential? And is it exclusive to the human animal?

Now there’s a New Year thought to ponder ….