Empathic disequilibrium in two different measures of empathy predicts autism traits in neurotypical population

Abstract

Background: Features of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are normally distributed within the population, giving rise to the notion of the autism spectrum. One of the hallmark features of ASC is difficulties in social communication, which relies heavily on our ability to empathize with others. Empathy comprises of both cognitive (CE) and emotional (EE) components that, together, allow us to understand another's emotions and be affected by them appropriately, while maintaining a self-other distinction. Although CE and EE depend on distinct neural and developmental trajectories, it was suggested that the two empathic capacities can influence, balance, and regulate each other. Previous findings regarding the role of emotional and cognitive empathy in ASC have been mixed. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate whether the intra-personal empathy imbalance between the cognitive and emotional components, a measure we termed empathic disequilibrium (ED), can be associated with autism traits at the neurotypical range. Methods: Participants were 671 young-adults at the neurotypical range who self-reported their empathy, assessed using two highly validated questionnaires-the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Empathy Quotient, autism traits using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, and the related traits, alexithymia, and systemizing. Results: Controlling for the total empathy score, greater ED was found to be positively correlated with autism traits. Specifically, autism traits were found to be elevated in groups of individuals with relatively higher EE than CE, underscoring their imbalance. Conclusions: Our study offers a novel perspective on the understanding of the social difficulties associated with autism tendencies in the general population and has potentially important clinical implications for understanding of ASC. We also propose a novel characterization of autism tendencies based on the imbalance between EE and CE, which we term ED, as opposed to examining EE and CE separately.

Reexamining Empathy in Autism: The Role of Empathic Disequilibrium in Autism and Autistic Traits

“…Yet mixed ndings [9] suggest a more complex role for empathy in autism. The imbalance between cognitive and emotional components of empathy, termed empathic disequilibrium (ED), is associated with autistic traits beyond these components independently [10]. Here we extend our ndings to adults with and without an autism diagnosis and use response surface analysis to characterize the relationship between autism, ED, and empathy in a more nuanced way.…”

“…For example, some individuals might show average CE, but in combination with higher EE, this creates an empathic imbalance, which might relate to signs of autism. To examine this possibility, we use the term ED, relating to the level of imbalance between CE and EE [10]. We previously found that the level of imbalance between CE and EE, and not each trait independently, predicted autistic traits in non-autistic individuals, even when controlling for their total empathy.…”

“…Using PRRSA, we examine whether equilibrium and disequilibrium between emotional and cognitive empathy (measured using validated self-report questionnaires) predict autism diagnosis and autistic traits (separating social and non-social aspects). Based on our previous ndings [10], we hypothesized that both total empathy and ED, favouring EE, will predict autism and traits related to the social aspects of autism. In contrast, ED, favouring CE, will predict non-social aspects related to autism (e.g., systemizing).…”

Macro- and micro-structural cerebellar and cortical characteristics of cognitive empathy towards fictional characters in healthy individuals

“…In children affected by autism spectrum disorders VBM analyses revealed reduced GM volumes in right Crus 1 and 2 and emphasized that the degree of cerebellar GM reductions correlated with the severity of symptoms in social interactions, communication, and repetitive behaviors 41 . More specifically, it has been recently reported that the size of empathic imbalance between the cognitive and emotional components is positively correlated with autism traits in neurotypical population 64 . Furthermore, cognitive empathy predominant on affective empathy is related to stronger connectivity in interoceptive and socio-cognitive networks including the cerebellum 65 .…”

Macro- and micro-structural cerebellar and cortical characteristics of cognitive empathy towards fictional characters in healthy individuals

“…In children affected by autism spectrum disorders VBM analyses revealed reduced GM volumes in right Crus 1 and 2 and emphasized that the degree of cerebellar GM reductions correlated with the severity of symptoms in social interactions, communication, and repetitive behaviors 62 . More specifically, it has been recently reported that the size of empathic imbalance between the cognitive and emotional components is positively correlated with autism traits in neurotypical population 63 .…”