Cited by 2,185Action Observation and SynchronizationFace Recognition and PerceptionNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Both of Us Disgusted in My Insula

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Wicker, Bruno, Keysers, Christian, Plailly, Jane, Royet, Jean-Pierre, Gallese, Vittorio, Rizzolatti, Giacomo·2003·Neuron

Abstract

What neural mechanism underlies the capacity to understand the emotions of others? Does this mechanism involve brain areas normally involved in experiencing the same emotion? We performed an fMRI study in which participants inhaled odorants producing a strong feeling of disgust. The same participants observed video clips showing the emotional facial expression of disgust. Observing such faces and feeling disgust activated the same sites in the anterior insula and to a lesser extent in the anterior cingulate cortex. Thus, as observing hand actions activates the observer's motor representation of that action, observing an emotion activates the neural representation of that emotion. This finding provides a unifying mechanism for understanding the behaviors of others.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0896-6273(03)00679-2

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Authors
Wicker, B., Keysers, C., Plailly, J., Royet, J.-P., Gallese, V., & Rizzolatti, G.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • University of Parma (IT)
  • Lyon 1 Université (FR)
Corresponding author
Rizzolatti, Giacomo
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-10
Volume
40
Issue
3
Pages
655-664
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2019924339
Cited by
2,185
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 64 · 2022: 77 · 2021: 86 · 2020: 84 · 2019: 107 · 2018: 116 · 2017: 101 · 2016: 105 · 2015: 120 · 2014: 127 · 2013: 154 · 2012: 132
FWCI
78.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
disgust, emotional understanding, emotional facial expressions, anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex, mirror neuron system, neural basis of empathy
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Emotions, Facial Expression, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Odorants, Photic Stimulation, Random Allocation, Stimulation, Chemical, Vision, Ocular

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