Researchers at Rutgers Business School, in collaboration with the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research at the Rutgers Brain Health Institute, have used MRI scanning technology to examine how the brain responds when a person witnesses toxic behavior in the workplace, according to a report published by Medical Xpress in March 2026.

The study marks the first-time collaboration between Rutgers Business School and the Rutgers Brain Health Institute's neuroimaging center, bringing together organizational behavior researchers and neuroscientists to investigate the neurological underpinnings of workplace abuse exposure.

The researchers employed MRI scanner technology to observe brain activity in participants as they processed scenarios involving toxic workplace conduct. The collaboration represents a novel interdisciplinary approach to understanding how organizational environments may affect human neurology.

IMPORTANT CAVEATS: The available source material provides limited methodological detail. Key information — including sample size, study design classification (RCT vs. observational), specific brain regions identified, effect sizes, peer-review status, and potential conflicts of interest — was not available in the provided source summary. Readers should treat this report as preliminary until the full peer-reviewed publication is accessible. The study's findings and their practical implications cannot be fully evaluated without access to the complete research paper.

Source: Medical Xpress, March 2026. URL: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-mri-scans-reveal-brain-toxic.html