The purpose of the study is to look at the impact of a metta meditation training on prosocial behavior and socio-affective brain responses. The training involves an 8-week, online administration of guided metta meditation practices aimed at generating feelings of kindness and compassion for other people. The study examines how participants respond to thinking about familiar others and strangers using behavioral and brain-imaging measures. This study will be important for understanding how people develop the capacity to be prosocial towards other individuals, which is a key component of adaptive social behavior.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Is a medically healthy individual
• Lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area and is able to travel to Georgetown University

Exclusion Criteria:

• Has experience with meditation
• Has any MRI contraindication (e.g. metal in the body, cardiac pacemaker, cannot lie still, etc.)
• Has any neurological disease
• Has a current psychiatric disorder
• Is pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• Is on medication that affects the central nervous system (e.g. psychotropic drugs)