英媒：研究发现，乐观者大脑活动模式惊人相似

Core Insights - A new study from Kobe University reveals that optimists exhibit remarkably similar brain activity patterns when envisioning the future, suggesting a shared neural framework for organizing future thoughts [1][2] - The research indicates that this "synchronized" brain activity may explain why optimists tend to achieve greater success in social interactions, as their brains operate in a more intuitive and connected manner [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The study involved 87 participants who completed a questionnaire on optimism and underwent MRI scans while imagining various future scenarios, including positive, neutral, and negative situations [1] - Results showed that more optimistic participants displayed more consistent brain activity patterns in the medial prefrontal cortex, which is associated with future-oriented thinking [1][2] Group 2: Comparison with Pessimists - In contrast, pessimists exhibited greater variability in brain activity within the same region, potentially due to the complexity and diversity of issues they consider when faced with negative scenarios [2] - The researchers suggest that optimists frame their future thinking around socially accepted goals, while pessimists may diverge from this "mainstream framework," leading to differentiated thought processes [2] Group 3: Expert Commentary - Professor Lisa Bortolotti from the University of Birmingham commented that optimists tend to imagine negative events in less vivid and specific terms, resulting in a reduced negative impact [2] - Bortolotti emphasized that optimism does not distort reality but alters how individuals are affected by it, suggesting that while blind optimism can be detrimental, a constructive form of optimism can enhance the likelihood of success [2]