EEG and fMRI Evidence for Autobiographical Memory Reactivation in Empathy

Abstract

Empathy relies on the ability to mirror and to explicitly infer others' inner states. Studies on healthy populations show consistent evidence supporting the idea that our memories play a role in empathy when building a representation of others' inner states (Buckner & Carroll, 2007a; Spreng & Grady, 2009a;Spreng, Mar, & Kim, 2009). However, direct evidence of a reactivation of autobiographical memories (AM) when it comes to empathizing with others' inner states is yet to be shown. To address this question, we conducted two experiments where we recorded electrophysiological (Exp 1) and hemodynamic activity (Exp2) from two independent samples of participants. In Exp 1, EEG was recorded from 28 participants who performed a classic empathy task, i.e. a pain decision task in which targets for empathy were depicted in painful scenes for which participants either did or did not have an AM, followed by a task that explicitly required memory retrieval of the AM and non-AM scenes. The retrieval task acted as a 'localizer' to extract the neural fingerprints of AM and non-AM scenes, which could then be used to probe data from the empathy task. A state-of-the-art EEG pattern classifier was trained and tested across tasks and showed evidence for AM reactivation when participants were preparing their judgement in the empathy task. Participants self-reported higher empathy for people depicted in situations they had experienced themselves (for which they would have an AM) as compared to situations they had not experienced. This behavioral result was replicated in a second fMRI Experiment, where hemodynamic responses were measured from an independent sample of 28 participants. Furthermore, fMRI results showed activation in the brain networks that have been extensively shown in previous studies to underlie both AM retrieval and empathy (study reports behavioral, electrophysiological and fMRI evidence that robustly supports the involvement of autobiographical memory reactivation in empathy. Significance statementHuman empathy is at the basis of our ability to bond with other people and interact in a meaningful way. Since we cannot fully experience what someone else is feeling, a big challenge in psychology is to understand how empathy occurs. We might use our own mind and experience as a model to represent others' inner states. To shed new light onto this debate, we used established and novel paradigms and analysis tools in the fields of social and cognitive neuroscience. In two experiments, we present compelling evidence that shows that participants reactivate AMs when asked to empathize with another person. The current study has the potential to increase scientific knowledge to ultimately impact a wide range of professions working with people in need in the health and social sectors.

Multivariate Pattern Analysis Techniques for Electroencephalography Data to Study Flanker Interference Effects

“…43 For that reason, the use of cluster-based non-parametric permutation methods is widespread, not only in fMRI [44][45][46][47] but more recently also in M/EEG studies. [48][49][50][51] In our study, a nonparametric cluster-based permutation approach, proposed in 43 for fMRI data, was adapted and implemented for the statistical analysis.…”

Episodic Mindreading: Mentalizing Guided by Imagined and Remembered Scenes

“…Earlier work suggested that the hippocampus may be spontaneously recruited when thinking about others' social pain (e.g., others' suffering arising from social rejection, grief, or other psychological pain; Immordino-Yang & Singh, 2013 see also Perhs, Zaki, Taruffi, Kuchinke, & Koelsch, 2018) and that sharing painful and similar experiences with other people increases trust, empathic concern, and cooperation (e.g., Bastian, Jetten, & Ferris, 2014;Hodges, Kiel, Kramer, Veach, & Villanueva, 2010). Newer developing research is emerging that directly investigates the reactivation of memory online during empathy for pain tasks, revealing that empathy for others' pain increases when people reported that they recalled a related autobiographical memory as well as it's neural basis (Meconi et al, 2019;Wagner, Rutgen, & Lamm, 2019). For example, Wagner et al provide some preliminary evidence that increased pattern similarity between fist-hand pain experience and empathy for others' pain within the hippocampus, TPJ, retrosplenial cortex, and anterior insula.…”

Multivariate pattern analysis techniques for electroencephalography data to study interference effects

“…43 For that reason, the use of cluster-based non-parametric permutation methods is widespread, not only in fMRI [44][45][46][47] but more recently also in M/EEG studies. [48][49][50][51] In our study, a nonparametric cluster-based permutation approach, proposed in 43 for fMRI data, was adapted and implemented for the statistical analysis.…”