And finally…“You’ve changed!” – scientists reveal getting promoted damages your brain

The widely held belief that power corrupts now appears to be supported by science after a discovery by researchers showing that progress up the corporate ladder damages our brains.

The results of a new study at carried out at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, suggests function in regions of the brain dealing with empathy failed to light up in people who felt ‘powerful’ in an experiment – hinting that people may lose the ability to empathise with others when promoted at work.

Dr Sukhvinder Obhi of McMaster University in Ontario said: “Many people who have witnessed a colleague get promoted to an executive level have probably seen some changes in their behaviour, and not always for the better.”

Researchers at McMaster made the finding using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) - a technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in specific regions of the brain.

This showed that the areas of the brain that deal with empathy were significantly less responsive in people in power.

The results are down to the brain’s neuroplasticity - an ability that allows the mind to rewire itself in response to experiences.

Dr Obhi added: “Power it seems, has a profound effect on the neurocognitive system underlying behaviour.

“Our current work aims to integrate previous work from social psychology with the techniques and methods of cognitive neuroscience to gain a better understanding of exactly how power affects the brain and social functioning in a variety of environments.”

Dr Obhi’s findings support those made over 20 years ago by psychology professor Dacher Keltner at UC Berkeley.

Professor Keltner found that people “under the influence of power acted as if they had suffered a traumatic brain injury, becoming more impulsive, less risk-aware, and, crucially, less adept at seeing things from other people’s point of view”.

Extreme case of the degeneration can result in a condition called ‘Hubris Syndrome’ where people can develop personality traits including losing contact with reality, excessive self-confidence and contempt for others.

Experts say the insidious effects of being promote can be mitigated by taking positive steps such as maintaining contact with people who have the power to call you out on bad behaviour, rewarding honesty while discouraging flattery, and maintaining social connections.