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Han Y, Ai L, Song L, Zhou Y, Chen D, Sha S, Ji R, Li Q, Bu Q, Pan X, Zhai X, Cui M, Duan J, Yang J, Chaudhury D, Hu A, Liu H, Han MH, Cao JL, Zhang H. Midbrain glutamatergic circuit mechanism of resilience to socially transferred allodynia in male mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4947. [PMID: 38858350 PMCID: PMC11164890 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49340-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The potential brain mechanism underlying resilience to socially transferred allodynia remains unknown. Here, we utilize a well-established socially transferred allodynia paradigm to segregate male mice into pain-susceptible and pain-resilient subgroups. Brain screening results show that ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons are selectively activated in pain-resilient mice as compared to control and pain-susceptible mice. Chemogenetic manipulations demonstrate that activation and inhibition of ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons bi-directionally regulate resilience to socially transferred allodynia. Moreover, ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons that project specifically to the nucleus accumbens shell and lateral habenula regulate the development and maintenance of the pain-resilient phenotype, respectively. Together, we establish an approach to explore individual variations in pain response and identify ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons and related downstream circuits as critical targets for resilience to socially transferred allodynia and the development of conceptually innovative analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Han
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Lin Ai
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Lingzhen Song
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Dandan Chen
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Sha Sha
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Ran Ji
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Qize Li
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Qingyang Bu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Xiangyu Pan
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Xiaojing Zhai
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Mengqiao Cui
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Jiawen Duan
- Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, PR China
| | - Junxia Yang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - Dipesh Chaudhury
- Division of Science, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Saadiyat Island, 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ankang Hu
- The Animal Facility of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China
| | - He Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 313000, PR China
| | - Ming-Hu Han
- Department of Mental Health and Public Health, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, PR China.
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Jun-Li Cao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
| | - Hongxing Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, PR China.
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Therrien S, Turnbull A, Anthony M, Conwell Y, Lin FV. Influence of affective states on informant impression of neuropsychiatric symptoms in people living with MCI. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:2128-2133. [PMID: 36995269 PMCID: PMC10544672 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2191928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are often accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS; e.g. depression/apathy/irritability) causing challenges for people living with dementia/caregivers and predicting worse disease progression. Accurately assessing NPS is critical to research on AD/MCI. However, there are limitations to both self-reports and clinician evaluations; the field often relies on informants to assess NPS. Informants' perception of NPS are influenced by disease and caregiver factors that may lead to biased assessments. We aimed to assess the relationship between participants self-reported affective states (valence/arousal) and informant-reported NPS.Methods: Data from a double-blinded intervention design (primarily testing neurostimulation's effect on NPS) were used to examine the relationship between participant-reported affective states and informant-reported NPS over 1 month. Forty participants (24 females) with MCI and NPS (mean age = 71.7, SD = 7) were enrolled along with informants (primarily spouses/partners) who regularly interact with participants. NPS assessment occurred weekly and at pre- and post-intervention, and participant-reported affective states were assessed at 14 timepoints.Results: Generalized Estimating Equations showed that participant levels of arousal, but not valence, were significantly related to corresponding informant-reported NPS at weekly (arousal: B= -0.59, SE = 0.27, Wald's χ2 = 4.61, p=.032; valence: B = 0.17, SE = 0.19, Wald's χ2 = 0.80, p=.37) and pre-/post- (arousal: B= -4.00, SE = 1.58, Wald's χ2 = 6.42, p=.011; valence: B= -3.34, SE = 1.80, Wald's χ2 = 3.43, p=.06) assessments.Conclusion: The findings indicate that informant-reported NPS may be more strongly influenced by arousal, and informants may be less attuned to valence in people living with MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Therrien
- CogT Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
| | - Adam Turnbull
- CogT Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Mia Anthony
- CogT Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Yeates Conwell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Feng Vankee Lin
- CogT Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
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Cho I, Cunningham TJ, Daley RT, Kensinger EA, Gutchess A. Empathy, memory, and aging during the COVID-19 pandemic. CURRENT RESEARCH IN ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 4:100105. [PMID: 37091210 PMCID: PMC10110281 DOI: 10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Recently, there has been increasing attention to the interaction between empathy and memory. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when empathy played a key role in people's behaviors, we assessed the relationship between empathy and memory. In this pre-registered report, we used memory accuracy for the number of COVID-19 cases as a measure of recent memory and examined its relationship with trait empathy. Moreover, we investigated whether cognitive vs. affective empathy differently associate with one's memory for the number of COVID-19 cases, given evidence for distinct mechanisms for the two aspects of empathy. Finally, we assessed how age is related to empathy-memory associations. To address these questions, we used the Boston College COVID-19 Dataset, which included surveys assessing dispositional empathy and memory for the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases during the first wave of the pandemic. Empathy was not associated with memory accuracy for the confirmed cases when using an empathy measure that combined both cognitive and affective empathy. However, when using a measure that separately assessed cognitive and affective empathy, only affective empathy, specifically the personal distress subscale, was associated with greater memory accuracy. There was no age-related difference in memory accuracy despite age-related decreases in affective empathy. Results suggest that individuals with greater affective empathy (i.e., greater tendency to feel discomfort by the suffering of others) can have more accurate memory for details of an ongoing empathy-evoking situation. Findings are discussed in the context of motivation and emotional arousal. The current study provides ecological evidence to corroborate the interplay of empathy and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isu Cho
- Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Tony J Cunningham
- Center for Sleep and Cognition, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan T Daley
- Department of Psychology, Gordon College, Wenham, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | | | - Angela Gutchess
- Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
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Steinberg SN, Tedla NB, Hecht E, Robins DL, King TZ. White matter pathways associated with empathy in females: A DTI investigation. Brain Cogn 2022; 162:105902. [PMID: 36007350 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2022.105902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is a component of social cognition that allows us to understand, perceive, experience, and respond to the emotional state of others. In this study, we seek to build on previous research that suggests that sex and hormone levels may impact white matter microstructure. These white matter microstructural differences may influence social cognition. We examine the fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter pathways associated with the complex human process of empathy in healthy young adult females during the self-reported luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. We used tract-based spatial statistics to perform statistical comparisons of FA and conducted multiple linear regression analysis to examine the strength of association between white matter FA and scores on the Empathy Quotient (EQ), a self-report questionnaire in which individuals report how much they agree or disagree with 60 statements pertaining to their empathic tendencies. Results identified a significant negative relationship between EQ scores and FA within five clusters of white matter: in the left forceps minor/body of the corpus callosum, left corticospinal tract, intraparietal sulcus/primary somatosensory cortex, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus/forceps minor. These consistent findings across clusters suggest that lower self-reported empathy is related to higher FA across healthy young females in specific white matter regions during the menstrual luteal phase. Future research should seek to examine if self-reported empathy varies across the menstrual cycle, using blood samples to confirm cycle phase and hormone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neami B Tedla
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
| | - Erin Hecht
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
| | - Diana L Robins
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
| | - Tricia Z King
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA.
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Repetti C, Eskenazi M, Garcia S. You feel me? A randomized trial of tDCS on pain empathy. Int J Psychophysiol 2022; 179:1-5. [PMID: 35753564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Pain empathy has a number of social benefits, but can be problematic in those who feel the pain of others too much. The current study examined the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a modifier of pain empathy with the expectation that cathodal stimulation would decrease pain empathy. Anxiety and general empathy were controlled for, given past work demonstrating their impact on pain empathy. Participants were randomized to either active (cathodal; n = 55) or sham tDCS (n = 55) at 2 mA for 20 min while watching videos of painful events and completing a pain empathy simulation questionnaire. Bayesian linear regression analysis indicated no evidence that tDCS condition affected pain empathy. However, there was strong evidence in favor of a positive relationship between anxiety and pain empathy, and extreme evidence between general empathy and pain empathy. The current study examined a montage over the temporoparietal junction though future work should also investigate other areas related to pain empathy such as the anterior cingulate cortex. Results provide evidence of the need for stronger methodological considerations with regard to tDCS including larger sample sizes. Further, the connection between anxiety and pain empathy demonstrates the need for treatments to not only target classic anxiety symptoms, but other factors than may worsen daily functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah Garcia
- Stetson University, DeLand, FL, United States of America.
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Dynamics of parasympathetic activity in violent incarcerated offenders before, during, and in recovery from an emotional inhibition task. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7126. [PMID: 35504982 PMCID: PMC9065157 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10872-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamics of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are hypothesized to play a role in the emergence of interpersonal violence. In the present study, we examined continuous activities of the inhibitory parasympathetic pathway of the ANS through the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD) in 22 male offenders who committed interpersonal violence and 24 matched controls from the general population across three successive phases: resting baseline, while performing an emotional Go/No-Go task, and post-task recovery. Results showed that across the three phases, the offender group presented lower RMSSD at baseline (pFDR = .003; Cohen's d = - 1.11), but similar levels during the task, attributed to a significant increase in their RMSSD level (pFDR = .027, Cohen's d = - 1.26). During recovery, while no distinction between the two groups was found, both groups showed signs of recovering toward baseline values. These findings suggest that violent incarcerated offenders can flexibly engage parasympathetic resources to meet environmental challenges. This underscores the necessity of considering parasympathetic dynamics and its respective mobilization/flexibility to better understand ANS profiles underlying interpersonal violence as well as its potential utility in designing more tailored interventions.
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Palix J, Abu-Akel A, Moulin V, Abbiati M, Gasser J, Hasler C, Marcot D, Mohr C, Dan-Glauser E. The Utility of Physiological Measures in Assessing the Empathic Skills of Incarcerated Violent Offenders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2022; 66:98-122. [PMID: 33567952 PMCID: PMC8609505 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x21994056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Since lack of empathy is an important indicator of violent behaviors, researchers need consistent and valid measures. This study evaluated the practical significance of a potential physiological correlate of empathy compared to a traditional self-report questionnaire in 18 male violent offenders and 21 general population controls. Empathy skills were assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) questionnaire. Heart-Rate Variability (HRV) was assessed with an electrocardiogram. The RMSSD (Root Mean Square of the Successive beat-to-beat Differences), an HRV index implicated in social cognition, was calculated. There were no group differences in IRI scores. However, RMSSD was lower in the offender group. Positive correlations between RMSSD and IRI subscales were found for controls only. We conclude that psychometric measures of empathy do not discriminate incarcerated violent offenders, and that the incorporation of psychophysiological measures, such as HRV, could be an avenue for forensic research on empathy to establish translatable evidence-based information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Palix
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ahmad Abu-Akel
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Valérie Moulin
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Milena Abbiati
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jacques Gasser
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Christine Mohr
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elise Dan-Glauser
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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Liu Y, Tian S, Jia G, Han Z, Guo C, Shang Y, Han Y. Symptoms Burden and Health-related Quality of Life in Chinese Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2021; 9:860-867. [PMID: 34966649 PMCID: PMC8666377 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2020.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease that negatively affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. Furthermore, the HRQoL of Chinese patients has been neglected for a long time. The present study aimed to assess the HRQoL of Chinese patients with PBC and explore the clinical variables correlating to the improvement of itch and fatigue. METHODS This was an observational, cross-sectional study. The PBC-40 and itch numerical rating scales were used to evaluate the symptoms and HRQoL of patients. RESULTS A total of 383 patients were recruited, and 86.4% were female, with a median age of 55 years (range: 49-63 years). We found that females had significantly higher scores than males in symptoms (p=0.033) and cognitive domains (p=0.021), and the fatigue domain was higher in elderly patients (p=0.007). Meanwhile, patients whose body mass index was <18.5 had the highest scores in the symptoms (p=0.009), fatigue (p=0.010), and cognitive (p=0.019) domains. Age at participation (odds ratio [OR]=1.068, p=0.015) and albumin level at 12 months after ursodeoxycholic acid treatment (OR=208.807, p=0.025) were independent factors that affected the improvement of the itch and fatigue domains, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The HRQoL of Chinese patients with PBC was significantly impaired depending on sex, age, and body mass index. Age and albumin level were significantly associated with the improvement of itch and fatigue, respectively. Therefore, treatment and support aimed at these two factors can be provided to improve the HRQoL of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yulong Shang
- Correspondence to: Ying Han and Yulong Shang, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3046-9507 (YH) and https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8576-3175 (YS). Tel: +86 29 84771509; Fax: +86 29 82539041; E-mail: (YH) or (YS)
| | - Ying Han
- Correspondence to: Ying Han and Yulong Shang, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3046-9507 (YH) and https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8576-3175 (YS). Tel: +86 29 84771509; Fax: +86 29 82539041; E-mail: (YH) or (YS)
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9
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Garcia S, Ferguson CJ, John Wang CK. Prosocial Video Game Content, Empathy and Cognitive Ability in a Large Sample of Youth. J Youth Adolesc 2021; 51:62-73. [PMID: 34626292 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-021-01512-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Whether playing video games with prosocial content has an influence on empathy among players remains contentious in the research literature. Some evidence suggests playing cooperatively with other gamers enhances empathy, but data have not conclusively linked prosocial content with empathy. Further, mechanisms of this potential relationship are unclear, and little work has been conducted on how cognitive skills, such as fluid reasoning, may mediate this relationship. The current study examines these relationships with a large sample of 3034 youth (27.2% female, Mage = 11.2; range 8-17 at time 1) in Singapore. Data were considered longitudinally across two years in three waves. Ultimately, no evidence emerged that prosocial content in video games had any impact on empathy related outcomes, nor was fluid reasoning a mediator variable for any relationship. However, variables such as social competence and depression and anxiety symptoms were highly related to empathy measures. This evidence adds to the growing debate in the field that video games may not dramatically alter, whether positively or negatively, the development of emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - C K John Wang
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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10
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Giannouli V, Yordanova J, Kolev V. The Primacy of Beauty in Music, Visual Arts and Literature: Not Just a Replication Study in the Greek Language Exploring the Effects of Verbal Fluency, Age and Gender. Psychol Rep 2021; 125:2636-2663. [PMID: 34148455 PMCID: PMC9483706 DOI: 10.1177/00332941211026836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Research on aesthetic descriptors of art in different languages is scarce. The
aim of the present study was to elucidate the conceptual structure of aesthetic
experiences of three forms of art (music, visual arts and literature) in the
Greek language, which has not been explored so far. It was further aimed to
study if biological and cognitive factors such as age and gender might produce
differences in art appreciation. A total of 467 younger and older individuals
from Greece were asked to generate verbal descriptors (adjectives) in free
word-listing conditions in order to collect terms reflecting the
aesthetics-related semantic field of art. The capacity of verbal memory was
controlled by using a battery of neuropsychological tests. Analysis of generated
adjectives’ frequency and salience revealed that ‘beautiful’ was the most
prominent descriptor that was selected with a distinctive primacy for all three
forms of arts. The primacy of ‘beautiful’ was significantly more pronounced for
visual arts relative to music and literature. Although the aging-related decline
of verbal capacity was similar for males and females, the primacy of ‘beautiful’
depended on age and gender by being more emphasized for young females than
males, and for old males than females. Analysis of secondary descriptors and
pairs of adjectives revealed that affective and hedonic experiences are
essentially fixed in the semantic field of art reflection. It is concluded that
although the concept of the aesthetics seems to be diversified and rich, a clear
primacy of beauty is found for the Greek cultural environment and across
different forms of art. The results also highlight the presence of complex
influences of biological and cognitive factors on aesthetic art experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaitsa Giannouli
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Juliana Yordanova
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Vasil Kolev
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology, Sofia, Bulgaria
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11
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Di Bello M, Ottaviani C, Petrocchi N. Compassion Is Not a Benzo: Distinctive Associations of Heart Rate Variability With Its Empathic and Action Components. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:617443. [PMID: 33776635 PMCID: PMC7994334 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.617443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have linked compassion with higher vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), a measure of parasympathetic activity, and meta-analytic evidence confirmed significant and positive associations. Compassion, however, is not to be confused with soothing positive emotions: in order to engage in actions aimed to alleviate (self or others) suffering, the pain should resonate, and empathic sensitivity should be experienced first. The present study examined the association between vmHRV and the empathic sensitivity and action components of trait and state compassion. To do so, several dispositional questionnaires were administered and two videos inducing empathic sensitivity (video 1) and compassionate actions (video 2) were shown, while the ECG was continuously recorded, and momentary affect was assessed. Results showed that (i) scores on subscales assessing the empathic component of trait compassion were inversely related to resting vmHRV; (ii) vmHRV decreased after video 1 but significantly increased after video 2. As to momentary affect, video 1 was accompanied with an increase in sadness and a decrease in positive affect, whereas video 2 was characterized by an increase in anger, a parallel decrease in sadness, and an increase (although non-significant) in positive affect. Overall, present findings support the notion that it is simplistic to link compassion with higher vmHRV. Compassion encompasses increased sensitivity to emotional pain, which is naturally associated with lower vmHRV, and action to alleviate others’ suffering, which is ultimately associated with increased vmHRV. The importance of adopting a nuanced perspective on the complex physiological regulation that underlies compassionate responding to suffering is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Di Bello
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Petrocchi
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
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12
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Midavaine É, Côté J, Marchand S, Sarret P. Glial and neuroimmune cell choreography in sexually dimorphic pain signaling. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:168-192. [PMID: 33582232 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a major global health issue that affects all populations regardless of sex, age, ethnicity/race, or country of origin, leading to persistent physical and emotional distress and to the loss of patients' autonomy and quality of life. Despite tremendous efforts in the elucidation of the mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of chronic pain, the identification of new potential pain targets, and the development of novel analgesics, the pharmacological treatment options available for pain management remain limited, and most novel pain medications have failed to achieve advanced clinical development, leaving many patients with unbearable and undermanaged pain. Sex-specific susceptibility to chronic pain conditions as well as sex differences in pain sensitivity, pain tolerance and analgesic efficacy are increasingly recognized in the literature and have thus prompted scientists to seek mechanistic explanations. Hence, recent findings have highlighted that the signaling mechanisms underlying pain hypersensitivity are sexually dimorphic, which sheds light on the importance of conducting preclinical and clinical pain research on both sexes and of developing sex-specific pain medications. This review thus focuses on the clinical and preclinical evidence supporting the existence of sex differences in pain neurobiology. Attention is drawn to the sexually dimorphic role of glial and immune cells, which are both recognized as key players in neuroglial maladaptive plasticity at the origin of the transition from acute pain to chronic pathological pain. Growing evidence notably attributes to microglial cells a pivotal role in the sexually dimorphic pain phenotype and in the sexually dimorphic analgesic efficacy of opioids. This review also summarizes the recent advances in understanding the pathobiology underpinning the development of pain hypersensitivity in both males and females in different types of pain conditions, with particular emphasis on the mechanistic signaling pathways driving sexually dimorphic pain responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élora Midavaine
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
| | - Jérôme Côté
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Serge Marchand
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Sarret
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
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13
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Estroff SE. On Empathy: Much Ado about Something. Psychiatry 2021; 84:256-259. [PMID: 34694968 DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2021.1958593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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14
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Lee EE, Bangen KJ, Avanzino JA, Hou B, Ramsey M, Eglit G, Liu J, Tu XM, Paulus M, Jeste DV. Outcomes of Randomized Clinical Trials of Interventions to Enhance Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Components of Wisdom: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2020; 77:925-935. [PMID: 32401284 PMCID: PMC7221873 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance Wisdom is a neurobiological personality trait made up of specific components, including prosocial behaviors, emotional regulation, and spirituality. It is associated with greater well-being and happiness. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to enhance individual components of wisdom. Data Sources MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published through December 31, 2018. Study Eligibility Criteria Randomized clinical trials that sought to enhance a component of wisdom, used published measures to assess that component, were published in English, had a minimum sample size of 40 participants, and presented data that enabled computation of effect sizes were included in this meta-analysis. Data Extraction and Synthesis Random-effect models were used to calculate pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) for each wisdom component and random-effects meta-regression to assess heterogeneity of studies. Main Outcomes and Measures Improvement in wisdom component using published measures. Results Fifty-seven studies (N = 7096 participants) met review criteria: 29 for prosocial behaviors, 13 for emotional regulation, and 15 for spirituality. Study samples included people with psychiatric or physical illnesses and from the community. Of the studies, 27 (47%) reported significant improvement with medium to large effect sizes. Meta-analysis revealed significant pooled SMDs for prosocial behaviors (23 studies; pooled SMD, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.22-0.3]; P = .02), emotional regulation (12 studies; pooled SMD, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.21-1.12]; P = .004), and spirituality (12 studies; pooled SMD, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.41-1.60]; P = .001). Heterogeneity of studies was considerable for all wisdom components. Publication bias was present for prosocial behavior and emotional regulation studies; after adjusting for it, the pooled SMD for prosocial behavior remained significant (SMD, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.16-0.78]; P = .003). Meta-regression analysis found that effect sizes did not vary by wisdom component, although for trials on prosocial behaviors, large effect sizes were associated with older mean participant age (β, 0.08 [SE, 0.04]), and the reverse was true for spirituality trials (β, -0.13 [SE, 0.04]). For spirituality interventions, higher-quality trials had larger effect sizes (β, 4.17 [SE, 1.07]), although the reverse was true for prosocial behavior trials (β, -0.91 [SE 0.44]). Conclusions and Relevance Interventions to enhance spirituality, emotional regulation, and prosocial behaviors are effective in a proportion of people with mental or physical illnesses and from the community. The modern behavioral epidemics of loneliness, suicide, and opioid abuse point to a growing need for wisdom-enhancing interventions to promote individual and societal well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen E. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Katherine J. Bangen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Julie A. Avanzino
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - BaiChun Hou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Marina Ramsey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Graham Eglit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Jinyuan Liu
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego
| | - Xin M. Tu
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego
| | - Martin Paulus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Dilip V. Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
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15
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Serbic D, Ferguson L, Nichols G, Smith M, Thomas G, Pincus T. The role of observer's fear of pain and health anxiety in empathy for pain: an experimental study. Br J Pain 2020; 14:74-81. [PMID: 32537145 DOI: 10.1177/2049463719842595] [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: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Empathy for pain is influenced by several factors, including observer beliefs. This study aimed to test the associations between empathy for pain, fear of pain and health anxiety. Methods A total of 182 participants rated their levels of empathy towards 16 images (8 female and 8 male) of individuals in pain and provided measures of fear of pain, health anxiety as well as age, sex and the presence of current pain. Findings Both fear of pain and health anxiety were positively associated with empathy for pain, but in the regression model, only fear of pain was a significant positive predictor of overall empathy for pain and its three subscales: affective distress, vicarious pain and empathic concern. The presence of pain also predicted overall empathy for pain, affective distress and vicarious pain.Observer's sex and age were not significant. The pattern of results remained the same when we repeated the analysis separately for images with males and females. Conclusion The results suggest that more fearful observers, and those in current pain themselves, have higher levels of empathy for pain. Future research should examine the mechanisms underlying this relationship and how fear of pain may influence empathic behaviours towards people in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danijela Serbic
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
| | - Lucy Ferguson
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
| | - Georgina Nichols
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
| | - Michaela Smith
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
| | - Georgina Thomas
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
| | - Tamar Pincus
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
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16
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Yoo S, Whang M. Vagal Tone Differences in Empathy Level Elicited by Different Emotions and a Co-Viewer. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20113136. [PMID: 32492974 PMCID: PMC7309171 DOI: 10.3390/s20113136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Empathy can bring different benefits depending on what kind of emotions people empathize with. For example, empathy with negative emotions can raise donations to charity while empathy with positive emotions can increase participation during remote education. However, few studies have focused on the physiological differences depending on what kind of emotions people empathize with. Furthermore, co-viewer can influence the elicitation of different levels of empathy, but this has been less discussed. Therefore, this study investigated vagal response differences according to each empathy factor level elicited by different emotions and co-viewer. Fifty-nine participants were asked to watch 4 videos and to evaluate subjective valence, arousal scores, and undertake an empathy questionnaire, which included cognitive, affective and identification empathy. Half of the participants watched the videos alone and the other half watched the videos with a co-viewer. Valence and arousal scores were categorized into three levels to figure out what kind of emotions they empathized with. Empathy level (high vs. low) was determined based on the self-report scores. Two-way MANOVA revealed an interaction effect of empathy level and emotions. High affective empathy level is associated with higher vagal response regardless of what kind of emotions they empathized with. However, vagal response differences in other empathy factor level showed a different pattern depending on what kind of emotions that participant empathized with. A high cognitive empathy level showed lower vagal responses when participants felt negative or positive valence. High identification level also showed increased cognitive burden when participants empathized with negative and neutral valence. The results implied that emotions and types of empathy should be considered when measuring empathic responses using vagal tone. Two-way MANOVA revealed empathic response differences between co-viewer condition and emotion. Participants with a co-viewer felt higher vagal responses and self-reporting empathy scores only when participants empathized with arousal. This implied that the effect of a co-viewer may impact on empathic responses only when participants felt higher emotional intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhhee Yoo
- Department of Emotion Engineering, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Korea;
| | - Mincheol Whang
- Department of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2287-5293
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17
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Heart Rate Variability reveals the fight between racially biased and politically correct behaviour. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11532. [PMID: 31395895 PMCID: PMC6687825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47888-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we explored vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) responses, a psychophysiological index of cognitive self-regulatory control, to map the dynamics associated with empathic responses for pain towards an out-group member. Accordingly, Caucasian participants were asked to judge the experience of African and Caucasian actors touched with either a neutral or a harmful stimulus. Results showed that (1) explicit judgment of pain intensity in African actors yielded higher rating score and (2) took longer time compared to Caucasian actors, (3) these behavioural outcomes were associated with a significant increment of RMSSD, Log-HF-HRV and HF-HRV n.u., (4) resting HF-HRV n.u. predicted the participants’ lag-time to judge painful stimulations delivered to African actors. Interestingly, these dynamics were associated with a measure of implicit racial attitudes and were, in part, abolished when participants performed a concurrent task during videos presentation. Taken together our results support the idea that a cognitive effort is needed to self-regulate our implicit attitude as predicted by the ‘Contrasting Forces Model’.
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18
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Tracy LM, Koenig J, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Gibson SJ, Giummarra MJ. Heart rate variability is associated with thermal heat pain threshold in males, but not females. Int J Psychophysiol 2018; 131:37-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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19
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Lim JA, Choi SH, Lee WJ, Jang JH, Moon JY, Kim YC, Kang DH. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with chronic pain: Implications of gender differences in empathy. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e10867. [PMID: 29879022 PMCID: PMC5999451 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000010867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is defined as persistent or recurrent pain lasting longer than 3 months; the severity of pain can be rated in terms of intensity, pain-related distress, and functional impairment. Researches have shown an association between psychosocial factors, such as empathic ability, and the severity of pain. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common psychologic intervention for individuals with chronic pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CBT on empathy in chronic pain patients, examining especially gender differences. In total, 89 patients with severe chronic pain (46 men and 43 women) underwent 8 sessions of CBT over the course of 4 weeks. Self-reported clinical symptoms were measured at the beginning and end of the CBT. Empathy was measured using the interpersonal reactivity index, and pain severity was assessed using the short-form McGill pain questionnaire. A comparison of male and female patients before CBT indicated that females showed higher levels of empathy in response to affective issues and reported greater affective pain than males. A mixed analysis of variance revealed that female patients showed higher levels of empathy than did male patients, both before and after CBT. We also found significant relationships between affective pain and empathy for others' personal distress in all patients. These results suggest that the effectiveness of CBT may be affected by chronic pain patients' level of empathy. Although the evident result was not shown in this study, the present findings imply that female patients may formulate excellent therapeutic alliance in CBT intervention that can lead to a clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-A Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital
| | - Soo-Hee Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | - Won Joon Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seongnam
| | - Joon Hwan Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital
- Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine
| | - Jee Youn Moon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Chul Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hyung Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
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20
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Dell'Osso L, Corsi M, Gesi C, Bertelloni CA, Massimetti G, Peroni D, Bonuccelli A, Orsini A, Carmassi C. Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) in parents of pediatric patients with epilepsy: Correlations with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Compr Psychiatry 2018; 83:25-30. [PMID: 29549876 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing literature has shown the usefulness of a dimensional approach to mental disorders, particularly when exploring subjects exposed to traumatic experiences such as a severe illness in one's child. Recent evidence suggests an increased vulnerability in subjects with autism spectrum symptoms to develop post-traumatic stress symptoms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of adult autism subthreshold spectrum in a sample of parents of children with epilepsy and its impact on post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms in the same study sample. Results revealed noteworthy correlations between post-traumatic stress symptoms and adult autism subthreshold spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) only in the subgroup of the fathers. In particular, were evidenced correlations between AdAS Spectrum domain of rumination and narrow interests and some TALS-SR nuclear domains: reaction to traumatic events, reexperiencing and arousal. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that subthreshold autistic features may influence the possible psychopathological reaction to trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Dell'Osso
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
| | - M Corsi
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - C Gesi
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - C A Bertelloni
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - G Massimetti
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
| | - D Peroni
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
| | - A Bonuccelli
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - A Orsini
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
| | - C Carmassi
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
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