Effects of Oxytocin and Prosocial Behavior on Brain Responses to Direct and Vicariously Experienced Pain
- Autor(en)
- Tania Singer, Romana Snozzi, Geoffrey Bird, Predrag Petrovic, Giorgia Silani, Markus Heinrichs, Raymond J. Dolan
- Abstrakt
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.
- Organisation(en)
- Externe Organisation(en)
- Universität Zürich (UZH), University College London, Karolinska Institute, Wellcome Trust
- Journal
- Emotion
- Band
- 8
- Seiten
- 781-791
- Anzahl der Seiten
- 11
- ISSN
- 1528-3542
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014195
- Publikationsdatum
- 12-2008
- Peer-reviewed
- Ja
- ÖFOS 2012
- 501010 Klinische Psychologie, 501021 Sozialpsychologie, 501011 Kognitionspsychologie
- Schlagwörter
- ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Allgemeine Psychologie
- Link zum Portal
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/6fc034ba-c569-48e2-98ca-e774c7c54e0a