[The contribution of neuroscience research to the study of empathy]

The study of the cerebral mechanisms underlying empathy lies currently at the heart of neuroscience research. This process which can be defined as "the ability to put oneself into other's shoes in order to feel his emotions and feelings", constitutes a basic skill in any interpersonal relationship, particularly in the caregiver-patient relationship. In addition, the study of empathy impairements offers new ways to approach diverse mental disorders such as autism or psychopathy. However, it is essential to identify how the brain processes empathy in healthy subjects before studying its impairements. The purpose of this paper will then be to synthesize what the neuroscience research already identified thanks to the numerous works in neurophysiology, neuroimaging and lesion studies. We will also mention some limitations of this field of research and end the paper with its future perspectives.