title: Autonomic contributions to empathy: evidence from patients with primary autonomic failure.
abstract: Empathy for the emotions of others may require simulatory engagement of corresponding autonomic arousal states. We tested the hypothesis that disruption of autonomic control impairs the ability to empathize emotionally with others. Fifteen patients with primary autonomic failure showed attenuated scores on the Mehrabian Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES), compared to both younger and older controls. This effect was not accounted for by age, gender, mood state or functional disability. These early observations provide preliminary evidence for a direct contribution of autonomic responsivity to the 'higher-order' social cognitive process of empathy, and may inform the dynamics of supportive care.
authors.affiliation: Royal Free and University College London Medical School UCL, Gower Street London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: Hugo D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Critchley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior