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Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice
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How learning shapes the empathic brain.

Grit Hein1, Jan B Engelmann2, Marius C Vollberg3

  • 1Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland; grit.hein@econ.uzh.ch.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 25, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Learning to empathize with out-groups is possible. Receiving costly help from an out-group member activates brain learning signals, increasing empathy through positive emotions and generalization.

Keywords:
empathyfMRIin-grouplearningprediction error

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Empathy deficits exacerbate conflict and suffering.
  • Understanding empathy's learnability is crucial for human well-being.
  • Out-group empathy suppression is a known model for studying empathy deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if and how empathy for out-groups can be enhanced through a learning intervention.
  • To identify the neural mechanisms underlying changes in out-group empathy.
  • To explore the psychological factors mediating empathy enhancement.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a costly helping intervention where participants received aid from in-group versus out-group members.
  • Measured brain responses, specifically prediction error signals in the anterior insular cortex, using neuroimaging techniques.
  • Assessed changes in empathy-related brain responses and self-reported emotional states.

Main Results:

  • Receiving costly help from an out-group member generated a prediction error signal in the anterior insular cortex.
  • This neural signal predicted a subsequent increase in empathy for other out-group members (generalization).
  • Empathy enhancement was mediated by the development of positive emotions toward the out-group member, requiring minimal positive learning experiences.

Conclusions:

  • Learning experiences, particularly costly help from out-group members, can significantly boost empathy.
  • Neural prediction error signals in the anterior insular cortex play a key role in mediating this empathy enhancement.
  • These findings provide a neurobiological basis for the plasticity of empathy and offer insights into reducing intergroup conflict.