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Acconito C, Angioletti L, Balconi M. Impact of public health communication for prevention and personal resilience at the time of crisis. A pilot study with psychophysiological and self-report measures. J Health Psychol 2024:13591053241247599. [PMID: 38682439 DOI: 10.1177/13591053241247599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Health communication promotes public and individual health. Psychophysiological indices can unveil the unconscious emotional variables that influence audience's representations of these communications. This study explored emotional and cognitive responses to health communications using implicit (psychophysiological) and explicit (self-report) measurements. Twelve communications (health prevention, personal health, public health, Covid-19) were shown to N = 19 participants, while psychophysiological (i.e. Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), skin conductance level and response (SCL and SCR)) and self-report (Semantic Differential and Self-Assessment Mannikin (SAM)) data were collected. Higher arousal and physiological engagement (SCL) were observed for health prevention, public and personal health communications. Lower HRV values were found for health prevention compared to crisis communication (Covid-19 stimuli), suggesting higher emotional reactions and concern for the first topic. Self-report results confirmed psychophysiological findings. Overall, using public health communication activates objective indicators about emotional reactions that have important implications for the effectiveness of the communication itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Acconito
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Angioletti
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Balconi
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
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Lin Z, Wang Y, Song Y, Huang T, Gan F, Ye X. Research on Ecological Landscape Design and Healing Effect Based on 3D Roaming Technology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11406. [PMID: 36141681 PMCID: PMC9517130 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, the human sub-health in national high-tech zones (hereinafter referred to as high-tech zones) has become more prominent. It is critical for the mental sub-health group in the high-tech zone to relieve the anxiety and tension caused by the pressure of life and work. This paper uses SketchUp virtual engine (Unity 2019) software, and 3D roaming technology to carry out the ecological landscape transformation design of the Baotzixi ecological corridor in the East Lake High-tech Zone, to construct a 3D roaming landscape scene and measure its therapeutic effect by inviting subjects to participate in an interactive experience experiment on the ErgoLAB platform. The results illustrate that: (1) the thermogram trend shows that the more attractive the 3D roaming landscape scene is, the stronger the subjects' interest is; (2) the participants have a positive emotional arousal state in the immersive experience of the 3D roaming landscape scene after the modification design; and (3) the mean skin conductance (SC) fluctuation variance of the subjects is 5.819%, indicating that the healing effect is significant in the state of positive emotional arousal. The research results show that there is a connection between the subjects and the 3D roaming landscape scene after the transformation design of "high interest, emotional arousal and significant healing".
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengsong Lin
- Virtual Landscape Design Lab, School of Art and Design, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
- Tus-Design Group Co., Ltd., Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Virtual Landscape Design Lab, School of Art and Design, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Yang Song
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA
| | - Tao Huang
- Virtual Landscape Design Lab, School of Art and Design, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Feng Gan
- School of Art, Culture and Tourism Industry Think Tank Chinese Art Evaluation Institute, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Xinyue Ye
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA
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Balconi M, Cassioli F. "We will be in touch". A neuroscientific assessment of remote vs. face-to-face job interviews via EEG hyperscanning. Soc Neurosci 2022; 17:209-224. [PMID: 35395918 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2022.2064910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In the last decades, improving remote communications in companies has been a compelling issue. With the outspread of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this phenomenon has undergone an acceleration. Despite this, little to no research, considering neurocognitive and emotional systems, was conducted on job interview, a critical organizational phase which significantly contributes to a company long-term success.In this study, we aimed at exploring the emotional and cognitive processes related to different phases of a job interview (introductory, attitudinal, technical and conclusion), when considering two conditions: face-to-face and remote, by simultaneously gathering EEG (frequency bands: alpha, beta, delta, and theta) and autonomic data (skin-conductance-level, SCL, skin-conductance-response, SCR, and heart rate, HR) in both candidates and recruiters. Data highlighted a generalized alpha desynchronization during the job interview interaction. Recruiters showed increased frontal theta activity, which is connected to socio-emotional situations and emotional processing. In addition, results showed how face-to-face condition is related to increased SCL and theta power in the central-brain area, associated with learning processes, via the mid-brain dopamine system and the anterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, we found higher HR in the candidates. Present results call to re-examine the impact of information-technology in the organization, opening to translational opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Balconi
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123, Milano, Italy.,Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123, Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Cassioli
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123, Milano, Italy.,Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123, Milano, Italy
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Grynberg D, Konrath S. The closer you feel, the more you care: Positive associations between closeness, pain intensity rating, empathic concern and personal distress to someone in pain. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2020; 210:103175. [PMID: 32889494 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2020.103175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research revealed inconsistent findings regarding affective responses when facing someone in pain (i.e., empathic concern and/or personal distress). In this paper, we suggest that the degree of closeness between the observer and the person in pain may account for these contradictory results, such that greater closeness towards this person leads to higher personal distress. To test this hypothesis, we induced either low or high closeness with a confederate in 69 randomly assigned participants. Following the closeness induction, participants evaluated their affective responses (empathic concern and personal distress) and rated the confederate's pain intensity after watching the confederate undergoing a painful cold pressure task. Results showed that, despite the non-significant effect of closeness induction, closeness across both conditions (low and high) was positively correlated with pain intensity rating, empathic concern and personal distress. This study thus suggests that closeness is associated with higher cognitive and affective responses to a person in pain.
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Zhao X, Li X, Song Y, Shi W. Autistic Traits and Prosocial Behaviour in the General Population: Test of the Mediating Effects of Trait Empathy and State Empathic Concern. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:3925-3938. [PMID: 30203310 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3745-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Although the core characteristics associated with autistic traits are impaired social interactions, there are few studies examining how autistic traits translate into prosocial behaviour in daily life. The current study explored the effect of autistic traits on prosocial behaviour and the mediating role of multimodal empathy (trait empathy and state empathic concern). The results showed that autistic traits reduced prosocial behaviour directly and indirectly through complex mediation by multimodal empathy. The findings revealed the internal mechanism of autistic traits impeding prosocial behaviour and expanded our understandings of social behaviour in autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) and autistic traits in the general population. Furthermore, the results have implications for social adaptability interventions for individuals with ASCs and high levels of autistic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Zhao
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, No. 100, Guilin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiujun Li
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youming Song
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, No. 100, Guilin Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Wendian Shi
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, No. 100, Guilin Road, Shanghai, China.
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Affective Synchrony and Autonomic Coupling during Cooperation: A Hyperscanning Study. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:3104564. [PMID: 29279845 PMCID: PMC5723953 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3104564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Previous research highlighted that during social interactions people shape each other's emotional states by resonance mechanisms and synchronized autonomic patterns. Starting from the idea that joint actions create shared emotional experiences, in the present study a social bond was experimentally induced by making subjects cooperate with each other. Participants' autonomic system activity (electrodermal: skin conductance level and response: SCL, SCR; cardiovascular indices: heart rate: HR) was continuously monitored during an attentional couple game. The cooperative motivation was induced by presenting feedback which reinforced the positive outcomes of the intersubjective exchange. 24 participants coupled in 12 dyads were recruited. Intrasubject analyses revealed higher HR in the first part of the task, connoted by increased cognitive demand and arousing social dynamic, while intersubject analysis showed increased synchrony in electrodermal activity after the feedback. Such results encourage the use of hyperscanning techniques to assess emotional coupling in ecological and real-time paradigms.
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Multidimensional assessment of empathic abilities in patients with insular glioma. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2017; 16:962-75. [PMID: 27456973 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-016-0445-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have provided evidence that there are two possible systems for empathy: affective empathy (AE) and cognitive empathy (CE). Neuroimaging paradigms have proven that the insular cortex is involved in empathy processing, particularly in AE. However, these observations do not provide causal evidence for the role of the insula in empathy. Although impairments in empathy have been described following insular damage in a few case studies, it is not clear whether insular cortex is involved in CE and whether these two systems are impaired independently or laterally in patients with insular gliomas. In this study, we assessed 17 patients with an insular glioma, 17 patients with a noninsular glioma, and 30 healthy controls using a method that combined a self-report empathy questionnaire with the emotion recognition task, assessment of empathy for others' pain, and the emotional perspective-taking paradigm. We found that patients with an insular glioma had lower scores for empathic concern and perspective taking than did either healthy controls or lesion controls. The patients' abilities to recognize facial emotions, perceive others' pain, and understand the emotional perspectives of others were also significantly impaired. Furthermore, we did not observe a laterality effect on either AE or CE among those with insular lesions. These findings revealed that both AE and CE are impaired in patients with an insular glioma and that the insular cortex may be a central neuroanatomical structure in both the AE and CE systems.
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Gernot G, Pelowski M, Leder H. Empathy, Einfühlung, and aesthetic experience: the effect of emotion contagion on appreciation of representational and abstract art using fEMG and SCR. Cogn Process 2017; 19:147-165. [DOI: 10.1007/s10339-017-0800-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Balconi M, Pala F, Manenti R, Brambilla M, Cobelli C, Rosini S, Benussi A, Padovani A, Borroni B, Cotelli M. Facial feedback and autonomic responsiveness reflect impaired emotional processing in Parkinson's Disease. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31453. [PMID: 27509848 PMCID: PMC4980588 DOI: 10.1038/srep31453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotional deficits are part of the non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease but few attention has been paid to specific aspects such as subjective emotional experience and autonomic responses. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of emotional recognition in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) using the following levels: explicit evaluation of emotions (Self-Assessment Manikin) and implicit reactivity (Skin Conductance Response; electromyographic measure of facial feedback of the zygomaticus and corrugator muscles). 20 PD Patients and 34 healthy controls were required to observe and evaluate affective pictures during physiological parameters recording. In PD, the appraisal process on both valence and arousal features of emotional cues were preserved, but we found significant impairment in autonomic responses. Specifically, in comparison to healthy controls, PD patients revealed lower Skin Conductance Response values to negative and high arousing emotional stimuli. In addition, the electromyographic measures showed defective responses exclusively limited to negative and high arousing emotional category: PD did not show increasing of corrugator activity in response to negative emotions as happened in heathy controls. PD subjects inadequately respond to the emotional categories which were considered more “salient”: they had preserved appraisal process, but impaired automatic ability to distinguish between different emotional contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Balconi
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Pala
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosa Manenti
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Brambilla
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Cobelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sandra Rosini
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Centre for Aging Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Centre for Aging Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Aging Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Cotelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
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Willis ML, Lawson DL, Ridley NJ, Koval P, Rendell PG. The contribution of emotional empathy to approachability judgments assigned to emotional faces is context specific. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1209. [PMID: 26347680 PMCID: PMC4541147 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research on approachability judgments has indicated that facial expressions modulate how these judgments are made, but the relationship between emotional empathy and context in this decision-making process has not yet been examined. This study examined the contribution of emotional empathy to approachability judgments assigned to emotional faces in different contexts. One-hundred and twenty female participants completed the questionnaire measure of emotional empathy. Participants provided approachability judgments to faces displaying angry, disgusted, fearful, happy, neutral, and sad expressions, in three different contexts—when evaluating whether they would approach another individual to: (1) receive help; (2) give help; or (3) when no contextual information was provided. In addition, participants were also required to provide ratings of perceived threat, emotional intensity and label facial expressions. Emotional empathy significantly predicted approachability ratings for specific emotions in each context, over and above the contribution of perceived threat and intensity, which were associated with emotional empathy. Higher emotional empathy predicted less willingness to approach people with angry and disgusted faces to receive help, and a greater willingness to approach people with happy faces to receive help. Higher emotional empathy also predicted a greater willingness to approach people with sad faces to offer help, and more willingness to approach people with happy faces when no contextual information was provided. These results highlight the important contribution of individual differences in emotional empathy in predicting how approachability judgments are assigned to facial expressions in context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Willis
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University , Strathfield, NSW, Australia ; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Australian Catholic University , Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Danielle L Lawson
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University , Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicole J Ridley
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University , Strathfield, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Koval
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University , Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Leuven , Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter G Rendell
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University , Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Balconi M, Vanutelli ME, Finocchiaro R. Multilevel analysis of facial expressions of emotion and script: self-report (arousal and valence) and psychophysiological correlates. Behav Brain Funct 2014; 10:32. [PMID: 25261242 PMCID: PMC4236514 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-10-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The paper explored emotion comprehension in children with regard to facial expression of emotion. The effect of valence and arousal evaluation, of context and of psychophysiological measures was monitored. Indeed subjective evaluation of valence (positive vs. negative) and arousal (high vs. low), and contextual (facial expression vs. facial expression and script) variables were supposed to modulate the psychophysiological responses. Methods Self-report measures (in terms of correct recognition, arousal and valence attribution) and psychophysiological correlates (facial electromyography, EMG, skin conductance response, SCR, and heart rate, HR) were observed when children (N = 26; mean age = 8.75 y; range 6-11 y) looked at six facial expressions of emotions (happiness, anger, fear, sadness, surprise, and disgust) and six emotional scripts (contextualized facial expressions). The competencies about the recognition, the evaluation on valence and arousal was tested in concomitance with psychophysiological variations. Specifically, we tested for the congruence of these multiple measures. Results Log-linear analysis and repeated measure ANOVAs showed different representations across the subjects, as a function of emotion. Specifically, children’ recognition and attribution were well developed for some emotions (such as anger, fear, surprise and happiness), whereas some other emotions (mainly disgust and sadness) were less clearly represented. SCR, HR and EMG measures were modulated by the evaluation based on valence and arousal, with increased psychophysiological values mainly in response to anger, fear and happiness. Conclusions As shown by multiple regression analysis, a significant consonance was found between self-report measures and psychophysiological behavior, mainly for emotions rated as more arousing and negative in valence. The multilevel measures were discussed at light of dimensional attribution model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Balconi
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan Largo Gemelli, 1, 20123 Milan, Italy.
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Balconi M, Canavesio Y. High-frequency rTMS on DLPFC increases prosocial attitude in case of decision to support people. Soc Neurosci 2013; 9:82-93. [PMID: 24279315 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2013.861361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Engaging in prosocial behavior was explored in the present research, by investigating the role of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in modulation of intention to support other people and of emotional attuning as it was expressed by facial feedback (electromiography, EMG). High-frequency rTMS was applied on DLPFC to 25 subjects when they were required to choose to directly intervene or not to support other people in emotionally valenced social situations (cooperative, noncooperative, conflictual, neutral contexts). Two control conditions were included in the experimental design to control the simple stimulation effect (sham condition with absence of TMS stimulation) and the location effect (control site condition with Pz stimulation). In comparison with sham and control condition, rTMS stimulation induced increased prosocial behavior in all the emotional situations. Moreover, as a function of valence, zygomatic (for positive situations) and corrugators (for negative situations) muscle activity was increased, with significant effect by DLPFC stimulation which induced a "facilitation effect". In addition, negative situations showed a higher rTMS impact for both behavioral and EMG responsiveness. Finally, prosocial behavior was found to be predicted (regression analysis) by EMG variations, as a function of the negative versus positive valence. The prefrontal circuit was suggested to support emotional responsiveness and facial feedback in order to facilitate the prosocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Balconi
- a Research Unit in Neuropsychology of Language, Department of Psychology , Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Milan , Italy
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Leigh R, Oishi K, Hsu J, Lindquist M, Gottesman RF, Jarso S, Crainiceanu C, Mori S, Hillis AE. Acute lesions that impair affective empathy. Brain 2013; 136:2539-49. [PMID: 23824490 PMCID: PMC3722353 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awt177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional imaging studies of healthy participants and previous lesion studies have provided evidence that empathy involves dissociable cognitive functions that rely on at least partially distinct neural networks that can be individually impaired by brain damage. These studies converge in support of the proposal that affective empathy--making inferences about how another person feels--engages at least the following areas: prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal gyrus, anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex, temporal pole, amygdala and temporoparietal junction. We hypothesized that right-sided lesions to any one of these structures, except temporoparietal junction, would cause impaired affective empathy (whereas bilateral damage to temporoparietal junction would be required to disrupt empathy). We studied 27 patients with acute right hemisphere ischaemic stroke and 24 neurologically intact inpatients on a test of affective empathy. Acute impairment of affective empathy was associated with infarcts in the hypothesized network, particularly temporal pole and anterior insula. All patients with impaired affective empathy were also impaired in comprehension of affective prosody, but many patients with impairments in prosodic comprehension had spared affective empathy. Patients with impaired affective empathy were older, but showed no difference in performance on tests of hemispatial neglect, volume of infarct or sex distribution compared with patients with intact affective empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Leigh
- 1 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- 2 Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kenichi Oishi
- 2 Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John Hsu
- 2 Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Martin Lindquist
- 3 Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca F. Gottesman
- 1 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- 3 Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Samson Jarso
- 2 Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ciprian Crainiceanu
- 3 Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Susumu Mori
- 2 Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Argye E. Hillis
- 1 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- 4 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- 5 Department of Cognitive Science, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Balconi M, Bortolotti A. Self-report, personality and autonomic system modulation in response to empathic conflictual versus non conflictual situation. Cogn Emot 2013; 28:153-62. [PMID: 23768127 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2013.805685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The present study integrated three different measures of emotional empathic behaviour in a social context: verbal self-report measures (empathic response, emotional involvement, emotional significance, and valence), autonomic response (skin conductance, SCR, and heart rate, HR), and personal response to empathic scale (BEES). Thirty-five younger adults were presented with different interpersonal scene types (co-operation, non-co-operation, conflict, neutral). Different empathic sensitivity to these interpersonal situations was tested, since we hypothesised self-report on empathy, emotional involvement and valence varied as a function of interpersonal context. As supposed, self-report measures of empathy and autonomic measures were found to be related: SCR and HR increased in response to conflictual and non-co-operative situations. Moreover, high empathic subjects were more responsive (on both self-report and autonomic response) to empathy-related situations than low empathic subjects. The convergence of these multidimensional measures are discussed: emotional components of empathy are elucidated in relation to self-report, autonomic modulation, and personality trait variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Balconi
- a Department of Psychology , Catholic University of Milan , Milan , Italy
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