Empathy is a multifaceted phenomenon that allows individuals to understand and share the emotional states of others, and is crucial for social cohesion and prosocial behaviors. In the study conducted by Plata-Bello et al. (2023), we sought to investigate how an individual’s level of empathy modulates the activity of the sensorimotor mirror neuronal system (MNS) during the observation of facial expressions of pain. The research used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at rest and during a task, combined with the use of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), an instrument that measures different components of empathy.
The study revealed that the observation of pain expressions significantly activates regions of the parietal, frontal and temporal cortex, with emphasis on activity in the left inferior parietal gyrus (IPL). This area is considered one of the nuclei of the sensorimotor MNS, whose function is traditionally associated with the encoding of observed motor actions. However, the results showed that such activity is positively correlated with the scores of the “empathic concern” subscale of the IRI, indicating that this activation is not limited to motor encoding, but is directly related to the empathic capacity of the observer.
This association between empathy and the MNS was reinforced by resting-state functional connectivity analyses. Increased connectivity was observed between bilateral IPLs and areas of the superior prefrontal cortex, including the right inferior frontal gyrus, also a component of the MNS. This increased functional connectivity can be interpreted as a neural basis for the ability to internally simulate the painful experience of others, which supports theoretical models that postulate empathy as a process of embodied simulation. Interestingly, connectivity of the left inferior frontal gyrus with regions such as the right middle temporal gyrus and the supplementary motor area was also modulated by levels of empathic concern, suggesting a broader empathic-motor network.
It is notable that the observed effects were lateralized predominantly to the left hemisphere. Considering that all participants were right-handed, this corroborates previous findings indicating a left hemispheric dominance in tasks involving motor simulation and sensory representation of emotional states, such as pain. Such hemispheric asymmetry may reflect a functional specialization in the encoding and simulation of others’ pain in individuals with greater empathic concern.
The authors also highlighted that although the MNS is often divided into sensorimotor and emotional components, both interact structurally and functionally. The activation of the sensorimotor MNS during the observation of pain suggests that traditionally affective processes (such as empathy) can recruit classically motor regions, especially in emotionally charged social contexts. This supports the idea that empathy is not merely a passive affective response, but involves active neural simulations that engage complex motor and perceptual networks.
We conclude that empathy, particularly empathic concern, is a key modulator of sensorimotor mirror neuron system activity. This finding has important implications for understanding the neural basis of empathy in clinical settings, such as in the care of distressed patients. Identifying neural networks modulated by individual empathic characteristics may pave the way for personalized interventions to enhance empathic responding, especially in healthcare professionals.
Reference:
PLATA-BELLO, Julio et al. Empathy modulates the activity of the sensorimotor mirror neuron system during pain observation. Behavioral Sciences, vol. 13, no. 11, p. 947, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110947.