Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Empathy02:34

Empathy

9.8K
Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor. 
9.8K
Cognitive Development During Adolescence01:18

Cognitive Development During Adolescence

186
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
186
Optimal Arousal Theory01:23

Optimal Arousal Theory

361
The optimal arousal theory suggests that performance is maximized when an individual experiences a moderate level of arousal. This theory is closely tied to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which illustrates an inverted U-shaped relationship between arousal and performance. The law, formulated by psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson, implies an ideal arousal level for optimal performance, and deviations from this level can lead to declines in effectiveness.
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
361
Physiology of Emotion01:20

Physiology of Emotion

1.8K
The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
1.8K
Egoism and Altruism01:55

Egoism and Altruism

92.4K
Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?
92.4K
Sympathetic Activation01:16

Sympathetic Activation

5.9K
The sympathetic division can influence tissues and organs by releasing norepinephrine at peripheral synapses and distributing epinephrine and norepinephrine through the bloodstream. In times of crisis or stress, sympathetic activation occurs, which is regulated by sympathetic centers in the hypothalamus. As a result, sympathetic activation prepares the body for physical exertion, rapid ATP production, and heightened alertness, allowing individuals to respond effectively to challenging or...
5.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Characterization of the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of TCF7L2-related neurodevelopmental disorder (TRND).

Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·2026
Same author

Gastric perforation mimicking acute cholecystitis: a case report.

Journal of surgical case reports·2026
Same author

COXFA4L2 upregulation preserves residual cytochrome c oxidase activity in COXFA4-related Leigh-like encephalopathy.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The Effect of Technological Innovations in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty on the Rate of Periprosthetic Acromion and Scapular Spine Fractures.

The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·2026
Same author

Inter-brain processes during Live and Represented social moments are inter-related and shaped by behavioral synchrony.

Communications psychology·2026
Same author

Identification of an episignature for CHD3-related Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome reveals heterogeneity in the CHARGE syndrome episignature: towards a better characterisation of chromatinopathies.

Genome medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
08:31

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome

Published on: July 31, 2016

13.8K

Neural shifts in alpha rhythm's dual functioning during empathy.

Niloufar Zebarjadi1, Jonathan Levy1,2

  • 1Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.

Brain and Behavior
|September 18, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Empathy development involves changes in alpha oscillations in the brain. This study investigates how alpha suppression and enhancement relate to brain activity during empathy in young adults, offering insights into neural mechanisms.

Keywords:
Alpha rhythmMEGPain empathySocial neurosciencedevelopmentfMRI

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice
07:03

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

6.9K
EEG Mu Rhythm in Typical and Atypical Development
11:50

EEG Mu Rhythm in Typical and Atypical Development

Published on: April 9, 2014

26.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
08:31

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome

Published on: July 31, 2016

13.8K
Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice
07:03

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

6.9K
EEG Mu Rhythm in Typical and Atypical Development
11:50

EEG Mu Rhythm in Typical and Atypical Development

Published on: April 9, 2014

26.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Alpha oscillations play a key role in brain information processing via 'gating by inhibition'.
  • Empathy in adults relies on alpha rhythm suppression in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1).
  • Empathy development shows a shift from alpha enhancement in younger ages to suppression near adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural underpinnings of empathy during a critical developmental window around age 20.
  • To determine if alpha power suppression in S1 during empathy correlates with increased BOLD signals.
  • To explore the functional role of alpha power enhancement in empathy development using BOLD signals.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 40 healthy young adults.
  • Recording neural activity and hemodynamic responses while participants observe physical pain versus neutral stimuli.
  • Assessing subjective experiences through questionnaires, interviews, and stimulus ratings.

Main Results:

  • This section is to be filled after the study's completion.

Conclusions:

  • This section is to be filled after the study's completion.
  • Findings will advance understanding of empathy's neural basis and the role of alpha oscillations in its development.