Mirror-touch synesthesia is linked with empathy - PubMed (original) (raw)
doi: 10.1038/nn1926. Epub 2007 Jun 17.
Affiliations
- PMID: 17572672
- DOI: 10.1038/nn1926
Mirror-touch synesthesia is linked with empathy
Michael J Banissy et al. Nat Neurosci. 2007 Jul.
Abstract
Watching another person being touched activates a similar neural circuit to actual touch and, for some people with 'mirror-touch' synesthesia, can produce a felt tactile sensation on their own body. In this study, we provide evidence for the existence of this type of synesthesia and show that it correlates with heightened empathic ability. This is consistent with the notion that we empathize with others through a process of simulation.
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