By Neuroscience News
Schadenfreude, the complex emotion of deriving pleasure from others' misfortunes, is shaped by intricate neural processes.
Key regions implicated in experiencing schadenfreude include the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the ventral striatum, integral in reward processing, decision-making, and empathy.
Notably, schadenfreude seems to be intertwined with feelings of envy, underlined by distinct patterns of brain activation.
Understanding the neuroscience of schadenfreude can offer novel insights into social cognitive disorders and broaden our understanding of the social nature of our brains.