The neural bases for empathy

Shamay-Tsoory, Simone G.

doi:10.1177/1073858410379268

Cited by 1,059Action Observation and SynchronizationNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

The neural bases for empathy

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Shamay-Tsoory, Simone G.·2011·The Neuroscientist

DOI 10.1177/1073858410379268

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Abstract

Human empathy relies on the ability to share emotions as well as the ability to understand the other's thoughts, desires, and feelings. Recent evidence points to 2 separate systems for empathy: an emotional system that supports our ability to empathize emotionally and a cognitive system that involves cognitive understanding of the other's perspective. Converging evidence from neuroimaging and lesion studies shows that a neural network that includes the inferior frontal gyrus and the inferior parietal lobule is necessary for emotion recognition and emotional contagion. On the other hand, the involvement of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, and the medial temporal lobe in self-reflection and autobiographical memory places these key regions as necessary for cognitive empathy. The proposed dissociation between these systems is supported by recent neurochemical experiments involving administration of oxytocin as well as by ethological, psychiatric, and developmental studies. Finally, although the emotional and cognitive systems appear to work independently, every empathic response may still evoke both components to some extent, depending on the social context.

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Whole-brain analyses of the contrast of painful vs. neutral expressions revealed activations in both the empathy network (anterior cingulate and bilateral AI/IFG) and the theory-of-mind network (mPFC, left TPJ, right TP).
“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 Shamay-Tsoory, 2011
Empathy is a multidimensional construct entailing cognitive empathy (CE) and emotional empathy (EE).
“Empathy is a multidimensional construct, entailing cognitive processes of perspective-taking, to make inferences about others’ mental states (cognitive empathy, CE), as well as emotional processes reflecting a direct affective reaction involving understanding, sharing, and responding appropriately to others’ feelings (emotional empathy, EE) (Shamay-Tsoory et al., 2009; Shamay-Tsoory, 2011; Bern”
From Oxytocin Enhancement of Emotional Empathy: Generalization Across Cultures and Effects on Amygdala Activity (2018) · cites this paper as Shamay-Tsoory, 2011

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Authors: Shamay-Tsoory, S. G.
Affiliations: Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Israel,
Venue: The Neuroscientist
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2010-11-11
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 18-24
ISSN: 1073-8584 (ISSN-L)
1089-4098
DOI: 10.1177/1073858410379268
OpenAlex: W2149260122
Cited by: 1,059
References: 36
Citations by year: 2026: 58 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 80 · 2021: 99 · 2020: 129 · 2019: 68 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 70 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 51 · 2012: 36
FWCI: 4.13
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: The Neuroscientist (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords: empathy, neural basis of empathy, affective empathy, cognitive empathy, emotional contagion, emotion recognition, inferior frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, medial temporal lobe, self-reflection, autobiographical memory, oxytocin
MeSH terms: Brain, Empathy, Humans, Neural Pathways

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