Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, SE14 6NW, UK.
Neuroimage. 2012 Sep;62(3):2034-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.05.081. Epub 2012 Jun 6.
Empathy is a multi-faceted concept consisting of our ability not only to share emotions but also to exert cognitive control and perspective taking in our interactions with others. Here we examined whether inter-individual variability in different components of empathy was related to differences in brain structure assessed using voxel-based morphometry. Following a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, participants completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Multiple regression was then used to assess the relationship between individual differences in grey matter volume and individual differences in empathy traits. We found that individual differences in affective empathic abilities oriented towards another person were negatively correlated with grey matter volume in the precuneus, inferior frontal gyrus, and anterior cingulate. Differences in self-oriented affective empathy were negatively correlated with grey matter volume of the somatosensory cortex, but positively correlated with volume in the insula; cognitive perspective taking abilities were positively correlated with grey matter volume of the anterior cingulate; and the ability to empathise with fictional characters was positively related to grey matter changes in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These findings are discussed in relation to neurocognitive models of empathy.
同理心是一个多方面的概念，包括我们不仅能够分享情感，还能够在与他人的互动中发挥认知控制和换位思考的能力。在这里，我们研究了同理心不同成分的个体间变异性是否与使用基于体素的形态测量学评估的大脑结构差异有关。在磁共振成像 (MRI) 扫描后，参与者完成了人际反应指数 (IRI)。然后使用多元回归来评估灰质体积和同理心特质个体差异之间的关系。我们发现，对他人的情感同理心能力的个体差异与后扣带回、下额前回和前扣带回的灰质体积呈负相关。自我导向的情感同理心的差异与躯体感觉皮层的灰质体积呈负相关，但与脑岛的灰质体积呈正相关；认知换位思考能力与前扣带回的灰质体积呈正相关；与虚构人物产生共鸣的能力与右侧背外侧前额叶皮质的灰质变化呈正相关。这些发现与同理心的神经认知模型有关。
