HOW SHOULD A DOCTOR REACT WHEN PERSONS EXPRESS A WISH TO SUFFER IN UNION WITH CHRIST? TRUE LOVE AND AN IMPORTANT...

Here we discuss whether the type of love which is expressed as religious Catholics who want to offer their suffering in union with the suffering of Jesus Christ has the same neurological pathways as the usual pathways related to love, that is a neurological pathway linked with the the Reward System and based on Dopamine as the main neurotransmitter. We propose that this type of love is probably based on an input from the Mirror Neuron System, which is related to Empathy. and the Default Mode Network. We accept that there are different inputs for the different types of love but the main output in all cases is the release of Dopamine as a Neurotransmitter. We argue that, while all types of love have, as a final pathway, the release of Dopamine from the Reward system, the type of love which is associated with suffering in union with the suffering of Jesus Christ is related to inputs related to Empathy. and the identifying of the self. By highlighting this perspective, we underscore the importance of recognising and respecting the profound dignity of individuals who choose to engage with their suffering in this meaningful way.