Unhealthy behaviors trigger same brain responses as bad smells

Unhealthy behaviors trigger moral judgments that are similar to the basic emotions that contribute to our ability to survive. Two hypotheses are prevalent in the current scientific literature as to the identity of these emotions. Some researchers single out disgust, while others opt for pain. After developing a new approach to brain imaging, a research team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has come down on the side of disgust. The study, which can be found in Science Advances, shows that unhealthy behaviors trigger brain responses that are similar to those prompted by bad smells. The research also identifies for the first time a biomarker in the brain for disgust.