Matsunaga Masahiro, Ishii Keiko, Ohtsubo Yohsuke, Noguchi Yasuki, Ochi Misaki, Yamasue Hidenori
Department of Health and Psychosocial Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities, Kobe University Faculty of Letters, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
PLoS One. 2017 Jul 6;12(7):e0180391. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180391. eCollection 2017.
Although human saliva contains the monoamine serotonin, which plays a key role in the modulation of emotional states, the association between salivary serotonin and empathic ability remains unclear. In order to elucidate the associations between salivary serotonin levels, trait empathy, and the sharing effect of emotions (i.e., sharing emotional experiences with others), we performed a vignette-based study. Participants were asked to evaluate their happiness when they experience several hypothetical life events, whereby we manipulated the valence of the imagined event (positive, neutral, or negative), as well as the presence of a friend (absent, positive, or negative). Results indicated that the presence of a happy friend significantly enhanced participants' happiness. Correlation analysis demonstrated that salivary serotonin levels were negatively correlated with happiness when both the self and friend conditions were positive. Correlation analysis also indicated a negative relationship between salivary serotonin levels and trait empathy (particularly in perspective taking), which was measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Furthermore, an exploratory multiple regression analysis suggested that mothers' attention during childhood predicted salivary serotonin levels. Our findings indicate that empathic abilities and the social sharing of happiness decreases as a function of salivary serotonin levels.
尽管人类唾液中含有单胺血清素，其在情绪状态调节中起关键作用，但唾液血清素与共情能力之间的关联仍不明确。为了阐明唾液血清素水平、特质共情以及情绪分享效应（即与他人分享情感体验）之间的关联，我们进行了一项基于 vignette 的研究。参与者被要求评估他们在经历若干假设生活事件时的幸福感，在此过程中我们操纵了想象事件的效价（积极、中性或消极）以及朋友的在场情况（不在场、积极或消极）。结果表明，有一个快乐的朋友在场会显著增强参与者的幸福感。相关分析表明，当自我和朋友条件均为积极时，唾液血清素水平与幸福感呈负相关。相关分析还表明，唾液血清素水平与特质共情（特别是在观点采择方面）呈负相关，特质共情通过人际反应指数来衡量。此外，一项探索性多元回归分析表明，童年时期母亲的关注可预测唾液血清素水平。我们的研究结果表明，共情能力和幸福感的社会分享会随着唾液血清素水平的变化而降低。
