Being in a position of power can cause brain damage

The saying goes that'power corrupts', and a new study suggests there may be some truth behind this - especially when it comes to brain function. Researchers have found that CEOs and other leaders may suffer damage to their brain as a result of their rise to power. The damage results in the loss of the ability to read other people's emotions, which could explain why people who achieve great power lose their ability to feel empathy for the less powerful. Neuroscientists at McMaster University in Ontario used transcranial magnetic stimulation to discover the lack of empathy in people who feel powerful. Forty-five volunteers took part in the study.