Shocking discovery? Money earned by exploitation is less rewarding, study shows

Experiment involving theoretical financial reward in exchange for uncomfortable electric shocks on self or others reveals brain preference for less pain and lower profit

It's the age-old question: does money buy happiness? The answer, according to scientists, depends on how you make your fortune.

A new study has found that ill-gotten gains elicit a weaker response in the brain's reward system than money that has been earned scrupulously. The findings could explain why most of us are reluctant to exploit others for financial gains.