Effects of oxytocin and prosocial behavior on brain responses to direct and vicariously experienced pain.
In this study, we tested the validity of 2 popular assumptions about empathy: (a) empathy can be enhanced by oxytocin, a neuropeptide known to be crucial in affiliative behavior, and (b) individual differences in prosocial behavior are positively associated with empathic brain responses. To do so, we measured brain activity in a double-blind placebo-controlled study of 20 male participants either receiving painful stimulation to their own hand (self condition) or observing their female partner receiving painful stimulation to her hand (other condition). Prosocial behavior was measured using a monetary economic interaction game with which participants classified as prosocial (N = 12) or selfish (N = 6), depending on whether they cooperated with another player. Empathy-relevant brain activation (anterior insula) was neither enhanced by oxytocin nor positively associated with prosocial behavior. However, oxytocin reduced amygdala activation when participants received painful stimulation themselves (in the nonsocial condition). Surprisingly, this effect was driven by "selfish" participants. The results suggest that selfish individuals may not be as rational and unemotional as usually suggested, their actions being determined by their feeling anxious rather than by reason.
Singer
Tania
T
Center for the Study of Social and Neural Systems, University of Zurich, Blümlisalpstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland. singer@iew.uzh.ch
Snozzi
Romana
R
Bird
Geoffrey
G
Petrovic
Predrag
P
Silani
Giorgia
G
Heinrichs
Markus
M
Dolan
Raymond J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004566:Electrodes; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin