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Is there a core neural network in empathy? An fMRI based quantitative meta-analysis
Abstract
Whilst recent neuroimaging studies have identified a series of different brain regions as being involved in empathy, it remains unclear concerning the activation consistence of these brain regions and their specific functional roles. Using MKDA, a whole-brain based quantitative meta-analysis of recent fMRI studies of empathy was performed. This analysis identified the dACC-aMCC-SMA and bilateral anterior insula as being consistently activated in empathy. Hypothesizing that what are here termed affective-perceptual and cognitive-evaluative forms of empathy might be characterized by different activity patterns, the neural activations in these forms of empathy were compared. The dorsal aMCC was demonstrated to be recruited more frequently in the cognitive-evaluative form of empathy, whilst the right anterior insula was found to be involved in the affective-perceptual form of empathy only. The left anterior insula was active in both forms of empathy. It was concluded that the dACC-aMCC-SMA and bilateral insula can be considered as forming a core network in empathy, and that cognitive-evaluative and affective-perceptual empathy can be distinguished at the level of regional activation.
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“the literature currently lacks a specific meta-analytic investigation and comprehensive systematic review on the relationship between empathy and the MNS.”
From Is the Putative Mirror Neuron System Associated with Empathy? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2021) · cites this paper as Fan, Duncan, de Greck, & Northoff, 2011
In the citing paper
“Similar to previous findings (Fan et al., 2011; Lamm et al., 2011; Shamay-Tsoory, 2011), whole-brain analyses of the contrast of painful vs. neutral expressions revealed activations in both the empathy network, including the anterior cingulate and bilateral AI/inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and the theory-of-mind network, including the mPFC, left TPJ, and right temporal pole (TP) (all activations”
From A neurobiological association of revenge propensity during intergroup conflict (2020) · cites this paper as Fan et al., 2011
In the citing paper
“Interoception-related meta-representation of emotion has thus been suggested to underlie the concomitant involvement of the aMCC/SMA and AI/IFG in neuroimaging studies on empathy as reflecting affective sharing (Singer and Lamm 2009; Fan et al. 2011).”
From Parsing the neural correlates of moral cognition: ALE meta-analysis on morality, theory of mind, and empathy (2012) · cites this paper as Fan et al. 2011
In the citing paper
“Two recent cross-sectional meta-analyses suggest that empathy for pain crucially involves anterior insula (AI) and anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) (Fan et al., 2011;Lamm et al., 2011).”
From Differential pattern of functional brain plasticity after compassion and empathy training (2014) · cites this paper as Fan et al., 2011
In the citing paper
“These results align with and extend previous crosssectional meta-analytic findings on a crucial role of insula and aMCC in empathy for pain (Fan et al., 2011;Lamm et al., 2011)”
From Differential pattern of functional brain plasticity after compassion and empathy training (2014) · cites this paper as Fan et al., 2011
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“This is in line with propositions that the affective and cognitive-evaluative components of empathy are supported by different neural networks (Fan et al., 2011; Shamay-Tsoory et al., 2009) that show different time-course during empathic responses (Fan and Han, 2008; Gu and Han, 2007).”
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Neural basis of in-group bias and prejudices: A systematic meta-analysis
Saarinen, A. I. L., Jääskeläinen, I. P., Harjunen, V. J., Keltikangas‐Järvinen, L., Jasinskaja‐Lahti, I., & Ravaja, N. (2021) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.027 · Cited by 43
“physically or emotionally painful situations) because there is accumulating evidence for an empathic brain circuit (Engen and Singer, 2013; Fan et al., 2011).”
Mailhot, J., Vachon‐Presseau, É., Jackson, P. L., & Rainville, P. (2012) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07953.x · Cited by 44
“…magnetic stimulation (Avenanti et al., 2006, 2010) and laser-evoked potential (Valeriani et al., 2008) have provided support for this model by showing increases in activity in pain-related brain regions during perception of pain in others (see Lamm et al., 2011; also Fan et al., 2011 for reviews).”
BackgroundTalking about social conflict in the MRI scanner: Neural correlates of being empathized with
Seehausen, M., Kazzer, P., Bajbouj, M., Heekeren, H. R., Jacobs, A. M., Klann-Delius, G., Menninghaus, W., & Prehn, K. (2013) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.09.056 · Cited by 41
“The SMA has furthermore been identified as part of a core empathy network together with the dorsal ACC, anterior MCC, and bilateral insula in a quantitative meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies (Fan et al., 2011).”
The good lies: Altruistic goals modulate processing of deception in the anterior insula
Yin, L., Hu, Y., Dynowski, D., Li, J., & Weber, B. (2017) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.23623 · Cited by 38
“A whole-brain quantitative meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of empathy showed that the left AI was involved in both the affective perceptual form and the cognitive-evaluative form of empathy, while the right AI was involved in the affective perceptual form only [Fan et al., 2011].”
BackgroundHildebrandt, M. K., Jauk, E., Lehmann, K., Maliske, L., & Kanske, P. (2020) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117624 · Cited by 41
“Regarding the affective component, meta-analyses identified the anterior insula (AI) and the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) extending into the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) / anterior cingulate cortex as neural regions reliably activated when observing others’ suffering (empathy for pain) - and when suffe…”
BackgroundResultInfluentialBorderline personality traits and brain activity during emotional perspective taking.
Haas, B. W., & Miller, J. D. (2015) · Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment · doi:10.1037/per0000130 · Cited by 38
Sex-dependent effects of stress on brain correlates to empathy for pain
Gonzalez-Liencres, C., Breidenstein, A., Wolf, O. T., & Brüne, M. (2016) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2016.04.011 · Cited by 40
Imagination Is the Seed of Creativity
Gotlieb, R. J. M., Hyde, E., Immordino‐Yang, M. H., & Kaufman, S. B. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316979839.036 · Cited by 37
“It is known to be supported by several regions within the aforementioned default mode network, as well as by some regions outside of the default mode network that are associated with visceral feelings (Fan et al., 2011; Lamm, Decety, & Singer, 2011; Schurz et al., 2014).”
BackgroundZhao, Y., Zhang, L., Rütgen, M., Sladky, R., & Lamm, C. (2021) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.69994 · Cited by 36
“That only aIns and not also aMCC shows such correlation may be explained by previous studies, according to which aIns is more specifically associated with affective representations, while the role of aMCC rather seems to evaluate and regulate emotions that arise due to empathy (Fan et al., 2011; Lamm et al., 2011; Jau…”
ResultSex difference in trait empathy is encoded in the human anterior insula
Wu, X. X., Lu, X., Zhang, H., Bi, Y., Gu, R., Kong, Y., & Hu, L. (2022) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhac398 · Cited by 38
“…suggested that the processing of emotional stimuli was predominantly associated with the left AI (Duerden et al. 2013), a brain area consistently activated in the affective–perceptual empathy (Fan et al. 2011) and specifically involved in empathy toward others’ physical pain (Ding et al. 2020).”
BackgroundInfluentialMassey, S. H., Stern, D., Alden, E., Petersen, J., Cobia, D. J., Wang, L., Csernansky, J. G., & Smith, M. J. (2016) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2016.09.025 · Cited by 38
“We also observed reduced cortical thickness bilaterally in the INS, which is thought to support a cognitive-evaluative form of empathy (Fan et al., 2011), and in the right SMA, which is involved in perceiving and processing action behaviors (Etkin et al., 2011; Keysers and Gazzola, 2009; Smith et…”
Humor and emotion: Quantitative meta analyses of functional neuroimaging studies
Farkas, A. H., Trotti, R. L., Edge, E. A., Huang, L.-Y., Kasowski, A., Thomas, O. F., Chlan, E., Granros, M., Patel, K., & Sabatinelli, D. (2021) · Cortex · doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2021.02.023 · Cited by 37
Golonka, K., & Gulla, B. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.751350 · Cited by 37
The gender you are and the gender you like: sexual preference and empathic neural responses.
Perry, D., Walder, K., Hendler, T., & Shamay-Tsoory, S. (2013) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2013.08.040 · Cited by 27
Tousignant, B., Eugène, F., Sirois, K., & Jackson, P. L. (2017) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.04.017 · Cited by 35
“These regions have also been associated with observation of physical pain and other emotions (Fan et al., 2011; Shamay-Tsoory et al., 2009) and, more generally, to the processing of salient sensory events (Iannetti and Mouraux, 2010).”
Effects of heroin on rat prosocial behavior
Tomek, S. E., Stegmann, G., & Olive, M. F. (2018) · Addiction Biology · doi:10.1111/adb.12633 · Cited by 37
“…that involve the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior mid-cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area and bilateral insula, which can be considered a core neural network involved in social information processing and empathy-related behaviors (Fan et al. 2011; Namkung, Kim, & Sawa 2017).”
Mindfulness Training: Can It Create Superheroes?
Jones, P. M. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00613 · Cited by 37
“, 2011), with changes in brain regions involved in emotion regulation, empathy, and perspective taking (Fan et al., 2011), and functional increases in the insular cortex during compassion exercises (Manna et al.”
BackgroundFourie, M. M., Stein, D. J., Solms, M., Gobodo‐Madikizela, P., & Decety, J. (2019) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-019-49298-4 · Cited by 39
Pattern similarity and connectivity of hippocampal-neocortical regions support empathy for pain
Wagner, I. C., Rütgen, M., & Lamm, C. (2020) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsaa045 · Cited by 35
“…assumption, previous studies implicated the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (also termed anterior mid-cingulate cortex; dACC/aMCC) and the anterior insula in the first-hand experience of pain and in pain empathy (Fan et al., 2011; Lamm et al., 2011; Rütgen et al., 2015b, 2015a, 2018; Marsh, 2018).”
BackgroundResultMaliske, L., & Kanske, P. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.845492 · Cited by 37
Sleep quality and its association with the insular cortex in emotional empathy
Guadagni, V., Burles, F., Ferrara, M., & Iaria, G. (2018) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/ejn.14124 · Cited by 37
“As highlighted in a whole brain quantitative meta- analysis of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies (Fan et al., 2011), empathy is suggested to rely on a core neural network including the dorsal region of the anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), the anterior medial part of the…”
InfluentialKovach, C. R., Evans, C.-R., Sattell, L., Rosenau, K., & Gopalakrishnan, S. (2018) · Research in Gerontological Nursing · doi:10.3928/19404921-20180223-01 · Cited by 37
Neural correlates of compassion – An integrative systematic review
Novák, L., Maliňáková, K., Mikoška, P., van Dijk, J. P., & Tavel, P. (2021) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.12.004 · Cited by 43
Schwenck, C., Ciaramidaro, A., Selivanova, M., Tournay, J., Freitag, C. M., & Siniatchkin, M. (2016) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2016.11.037 · Cited by 37
Other-regarding attention focus modulates third-party altruistic choice: An fMRI study
David, B., Hu, Y., Krüger, F., & Weber, B. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep43024 · Cited by 34
Pain Mirrors: Neural Correlates of Observing Self or Others’ Facial Expressions of Pain
Benuzzi, F., Lui, F., Ardizzi, M., Ambrosecchia, M., Ballotta, D., Righi, S., Pagnoni, G., Gallese, V., & Porro, C. A. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01825 · Cited by 38
“Previous studies on the neural basis of empathy for pain have predominantly used visual tasks where participants watched another person’s body parts in painful situations (see Fan et al., 2011 for a review).”
BackgroundCulture–Sex Interaction and the Self-Report Empathy in Australians and Mainland Chinese
Zhao, Q., Neumann, D. L., Cao, Y., Baron‐Cohen, S., Yan, C., Chan, R. C. K., & Shum, D. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00396 · Cited by 34
Brain Responses to Emotional Infant Faces in New Mothers and Nulliparous Women
Zhang, K., Rigo, P., Su, X., Wang, M., Chen, Z., Esposito, G., Putnick, D. L., Bornstein, M. H., & Du, X. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66511-x · Cited by 37
Tusche, A., & Bas, L. M. (2021) · Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Cognitive Science · doi:10.1002/wcs.1571 · Cited by 37
“Empathy reliably recruits the AI and MCC (Figure 2) (Bellucci et al., 2020; Fan et al., 2011; Kurth et al., 2010; Lamm et al., 2011) (for evidence on secondary brain networks and domain-specificity, see Ding et al., 2020; Jauniaux et al., 2019; Timmers et al., 2018).”
BackgroundEmpathy for pain‑related dorsolateral prefrontal activity is modulated by angry face perception
Enzi, B., Amirie, S., & Brüne, M. (2016) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-016-4731-4 · Cited by 33
“…insula activation in empathy for pain Various meta-analyses have found a consistent activation of the mid-cingulate cortex and the AI during empathy— irrespective of the induction method, i.e., cue-based versus picture-based, and the emotion empathized with (Fan et al. 2011; Lamm et al. 2011).”
BackgroundInfluentialIs the quality of female auditors really better? Evidence based on the Chinese A-share market
Yang, S., Liu, Y., & Mai, Q. (2018) · China Journal of Accounting Research · doi:10.1016/j.cjar.2018.07.004 · Cited by 37
Shalev, I., & Uzefovsky, F. (2020) · Molecular Autism · doi:10.1186/s13229-020-00362-1 · Cited by 34
Winters, D. E., Pruitt, P. J., Fukui, S., Cyders, M. A., Pierce, B. J., Lay, K., & Damoiseaux, J. S. (2021) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107832 · Cited by 37
Down-modulation of mu-activity through empathic top-down processes
Hoenen, M., Schain, C., & Pause, B. M. (2013) · Social Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/17470919.2013.833550 · Cited by 29
Metadata
- Authors
- Fan, Y., Duncan, N. W., de Greck, M., & Northoff, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Northoff, Georg
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 903-911
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2088335634
- Semantic Scholar
- a0ef877b20f7510e11539ab069df023ea45c7501
- Cited by
- 902
- References
- 89
- Citations by year
- 2026: 41 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 82 · 2021: 90 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 67 · 2016: 57 · 2015: 75 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 3.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Salus Foundation
- German Research Foundation
- SFB/DFG
- Hope of Depression Research Foundation (HDRF)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
- Keywords
- empathy, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area, anterior insula
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Brain Mapping, Cognition, Empathy, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neural Pathways, Neuropsychological Tests, Oxygen, Meta-Analysis as Topic
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