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Updated: Nov 2, 2025

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice
Published on: November 22, 2024
Emotional contagion: Improving survival by preparing for socially sensed threats
Christian Keysers1, Valeria Gazzola1
1Social Brain Lab, Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Abstract:
Rats respond to the emotions of others. A new study reveals how their central amygdala uses such social information to selfishly trigger defences that adapt to the nature of the danger with all the hallmarks of true emotional contagion.
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