Cited by 78Action Observation and SynchronizationNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorPrimate Behavior and Ecology

Neural mechanisms necessary for empathy-related phenomena across species

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Paradiso, Enrica, Gazzola, Valeria, Keysers, Christian·2021·Current Opinion in Neurobiology

Abstract

The neural basis of empathy and prosociality has received much interest over the past decades. Neuroimaging studies localized a network of brain regions with activity that correlates with empathy. Here, we review how the emergence of rodent and nonhuman primate models of empathy-related phenomena supplements human lesion and neuromodulation studies providing evidence that activity in several nodes is necessary for these phenomena to occur. We review proof that (i) affective states triggered by the emotions of others, (ii) motivations to act in ways that benefit others, and (iii) emotion recognition can be altered by perturbing brain activity in many nodes identified by human neuroimaging, with strongest evidence for the cingulate and the amygdala. We also include evidence that manipulations of the oxytocin system and analgesics can have such effects, the latter providing causal evidence for the recruitment of an individual's own nociceptive system to feel with the pain of others.

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Authors
Paradiso, E., Gazzola, V., & Keysers, C.
Affiliations
Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NL)
Corresponding author
  • Gazzola, Valeria
  • Keysers, Christian
Venue
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-06
Volume
68
Pages
107-115
ISSN
0959-4388 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3138164693
Cited by
78
References
93
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 9
FWCI
2.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Neurobiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • KNAW Research Portal (The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • European Research Council (758703)
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (452-14-015, 453-15-009)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
Keywords
empathy, prosocial behavior, neural basis of empathy, affective empathy, cognitive empathy, emotion recognition, cingulate cortex, amygdala, oxytocin, analgesics, rodent models, nonhuman primate model, lesion studies, neuromodulation, interoception
MeSH terms
Brain, Emotions, Empathy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neuroimaging

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