The behavioral and cerebral correlates empathy

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A growing number of behavioural, cognitive and brain imaging studies show that individuals come to understand the intentions and mental states of other people with the help of the neural systems that produces the same states in themselves. Evidence for this correspondence has initially been discovered in monkeys in which a specific type of brain cells call "mirror neurons" were found to respond both to a specific action and to the observation of the same action performed by another individual. Mirror neurons are thought to represent the long sought missing biological link between perception and action, and has been suggested to be responsible for even more complex social interactions such as human empathy. We argue, based on evidence from multiple disciplines, that empathy can be divided into different components and that many brain systems (including but not exclusively mirror neurons) are involved in this process. This research program proposes to investigate the many facets of human empathy by using different methodological means, including behavioural testing, measures of physiological response, and brain imaging with functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography. The main objective is to develop reliable measures for the different components of human empathy and refine the proposed multidisciplinary model of this complex yet fascinating emotional ability. A better understanding of the behavioural and cerebral bases of empathy will provide a strong framework for future research in the innovative domain of social cognitive neuroscience and could lead to future work on creative topics such as the cerebral roots of moral and altruistic behaviour.