Loading...
Increased neural responses to empathy for pain might explain how acute stress increases prosociality
Tomova, L. Majdand, J. Hummer, A. Windischberger, C. Heinrichs, Markus Lamm, Claus
Tomova, L.
Majdand, J.
Hummer, A.
Windischberger, C.
Heinrichs, Markus
Lamm, Claus
Abstract
Recent behavioral investigations suggest that acute stress can increase prosocial behavior. Here, we investigated whether increased empathy represents a potential mechanism for this finding. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we assessed the effects of acute stress on neural responses related to automatic and regulatory components of empathy for pain as well as subsequent prosocial behavior. Stress increased activation in brain areas associated with the automatic sharing of others’ pain, such as the anterior insula, the anterior midcingulate cortex, and the primary somatosensory cortex. In addition, we found increased prosocial behavior under stress. Furthermore, activation in the anterior midcingulate cortex mediated the effects of stress on prosocial behavior. However, stressed participants also displayed stronger and inappropriate other-related responses in situations which required them to take the perspective of another person, and to regulate their automatic affective responses. Thus, while acute stress may increase prosocial behavior by intensifying the sharing of others’ emotions, this comes at the cost of reduced cognitive appraisal abilities. Depending on the contextual constraints, stress may therefore affect empathy in ways that are either beneficial or detrimental.
Keywords
psychological stress, neuroimaging, empathy, social cognition, prosocial behavior
Date
2017
Type
Journal article
Journal
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
Book
Volume
12
Issue
3
Page Range
401-408
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Open access
License
CC BY-NC 4.0
File Access
Open