Neural mechanism of resistance to sympathy

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24791251
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: National Institute of Radiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA Makiko 独立行政法人放射線医学総合研究所, 分子イメージング研究センター, サブリーダー (50557444)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 共感 / 認知神経科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Perception of someone in pain does not always induce sympathy in perceivers. In particular, resistance to sympathy has been considered as a serious problem in clinical settings. The present study aimed to uncover the neural mechanism of resistance to sympathy, and found the desire to feel superior to others, which was a component of sympathy, was generated by the interrelationship between the dopamine neurotransmission in striatum and the stratal functional connectivity. Moreover, dopamine neurotransmissions in striatum and orbitofrontal cortex were associated with the perspective taking ability and Machavellianism, respectively, both of which were related to resistance to sympathy.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学