Studies of empathy

Today we’re looking at empathy. First, Avnor, Atias, Markus & Shamay-Tsoory (2024) published “It Takes Two to Empathize: Interbrain coupling contributes to distress regulation” in Emotion. Here are edited excerpts:

While extant research on empathy has made significant progress in uncovering the mechanisms underlying the responses of an observer (empathizer) to the distress of another (target), it remains unclear how the interaction between the empathizer and the target contributes to distress regulation in the target. Here, we propose that behavioral and neural coupling during empathic interactions contribute to diminished distress. From November 2020 to November 2022, we recruited 37 pairs of previously unacquainted participants (N = 74) from multicultural backgrounds. They engaged in a 5 min face-to-face emotional sharing task, where one participant shared a distressing biographical experience with the other participant. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure interbrain coupling in the emotion regulation system, specifically the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and the observation execution system, specifically the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Results indicate that during emotional sharing the target and the empathizer emotionally converge, such that the empathizer becomes sadder. Moreover, the levels of empathizers’ empathy predicted both emotional convergence and target distress relief. The neuroimaging findings indicate that interbrain coupling in the dlPFC, IFG, and premotor cortex, predicted distress relief in the target, and more critically that interbrain coupling in the dlPFC played a mediating role in the relationship between distress relief and the levels of empathy of the empathizer. Considering the role of the dlPFC in emotion regulation, we conclude that interbrain coupling in this region during emotional sharing plays a key role in dyadic coregulation of distress. 

Humans have an inherent inclination to respond to the distress of others (Zaki & Williams, 2013). This is evident during the act of comforting a crying infant or providing support to an emotionally troubled friend. During these moments a significant dyadic interaction unfolds, allowing one individual to relieve the distress of another. One of the critical human capacities that may contribute to the ability to regulate the other’s emotions is empathy. 

Our study reveals the emergence of emotional convergence during emotional sharing, where empathy assumes a pivotal role in shaping the sharing experience. Notably, we observed that interbrain coupling in the IFG, premotor cortex and in the dlPFC is associated with the extent of distress experienced after sharing. These findings suggest that interbrain coupling may serve as a mechanism of connectedness during emotional sharing, contributing to the emergence of attuned responses and ultimately influencing the levels of distress the target experiences. Since we did not explore the specific communication signals (e.g., facial expressions, prosody) contributing to these associations, future research can characterize the relationship between distinct behavioral signals and their contributions to reducing distress. Finally, it is imperative to investigate causality to ascertain whether the observed interbrain coupling genuinely influences the distress of the target.

I thought this was a nicely designed study of a relatively small sample finding emotional convergence between unacquainted pairs via specific interbrain coupling. The next study attempts to look further at affective congruence. Ringwald, Vize & Wright (2025) published “Do You Feel What I Feel? The relation between congruence of perceived affect and self-reported empathy in daily life social situations” in Emotion. Here’s the edited abstract:

Theories of empathy highlight the importance of affective congruence, which is the degree to which we match an interaction partner in negative or positive affect. However, no research to date has used a multipronged assessment approach necessary to investigate whether and how affective congruence typically relates to empathy (i.e., perception of others’ affect, self-reported affect, and self-reported empathy during interpersonal interactions). Using multilevel response surface analysis and ecological momentary assessment, we investigated relations between congruence of perceived affect and self-reported empathy during social interactions in a large sample of adults (N = 526; total interactions = 21,521; Mdn = 38 interactions per person). Data were collected in spring 2023. We found that while self-reported empathy is generally higher when there is congruence of perceived affect, empathy is highest when there is congruence in high positive affect. Further, people are least empathetic when they feel emotionally worse than they perceive the other person is feeling. These findings provide novel insights into the empathic processes. 

This is a larger sample with common sense but helpful findings. When we both feel positive affect, we feel more empathic but, when you seem a lot happier than me, I’m less empathic. The final study looks within the family. Blasberg, Kanske & Engert (2025) published “Empathic Stress in the Family: Adolescents vicariously respond to their parents’ acute psychosocial stress” in Developmental Psychology. Here are the edited abstract and impact statement:

The physiological and psychological reproduction of another’s psychosocial stress can offer the necessary commiseration to help one another alleviate a stressor at hand. But such empathic stress might also create the possibility for stress to spread rather than dissipate. We investigated whether adolescents showed empathic stress when observing their parents under acute stress. Mothers or fathers (N = 77) completed a standardized laboratory stressor while their adolescent children (13–16 years old) acted as observers. Dyad members simultaneously provided multiple samples of salivary cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and subjective stress. Adolescents also completed a computerized task, the EmpaToM, to measure empathy, compassion, and theory of mind. On average, adolescents showed significant responses across all stress markers. Furthermore, when interacting with their stressed parents after termination of the stress task, adolescents showed increased heart rate and HRV reactivity. These physiological changes were unrelated to the magnitude of the parents’ psychological and physiological stress responses. Regarding their socioemotional capacities, only highly empathic adolescents showed greater self-reported personal distress. We conclude that adolescents vicariously react to their parents’ stress, particularly during interaction with an acutely stressed parental figure. 

Adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 years spontaneously reproduce their parents’ psychosocial stress on a physiological and psychological level. In contrast to previous findings, no specific dependencies on their empathic capabilities where found. 

I liked the fact that in this study, teens watched their parents stressed and then showed comparable physiological responses, but their responses didn’t mirror their parents’ stress responses. It’s not surprising that highly empathic adolescents experienced their own personal distress. I thought this one is interesting in highlighting the fact that teens notice their parents’ stress but we need to know a lot more about affective convergence and empathy in other settings.