Humans tend to flatter themselves by thinking we have the capacity to perform elaborate feats of moral reasoning, deeply considering possible consequences before arriving at an ethical decision. The reality is somewhat less flattering; a number of studies suggest we make moral decisions quickly and with a heavy reliance on our emotional response. Any reasoning that takes place tends to involve after-the-fact attempts to rationalize our decision, while everything from brain damage to neurotransmitter levels can alter our decisions in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. The latest findings in this area indicate that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the class of drugs popularized by Prozac, can alter moral decision making, but only when the individual taking the drugs has a personal, emotional stake in the process.

This isn’t the authors’ first look at the impact of serotonin signaling. Two years ago, they reported that lowering the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin changed subjects’ behavior in the Ultimatum Game, which measures their willingness to punish peers for acting unfairly. With less serotonin around, individuals became more sensitive to offers that they perceived as unfair, and rejected them at elevated rates.

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Common antidepressants can send our moral compasses spinning