Emotional pain without sensory pain--dream on?
The article by Danziger and colleagues in this issue of Neuron evaluates empathy in a unique population--individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain. As such, it provides insights into the brain's ability to evaluate others' feeling to observed pain without having a specific sensory experience of pain itself.
Borsook
David
D
Pain and Analgesia Imaging Neuroscience Group, Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02476, USA. dborsook@partners.org
Becerra
Lino
L
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D053447:Channelopathies / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004325:Dreams / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D000699:Pain Insensitivity, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*