Altered Functional Connectivity of the Default Mode Network in Low-Empathy Subjects.
10.3349/ymj.2017.58.5.1061
- Author:
Seung Jun KIM
1
;
Sung Eun KIM
;
Hyo Eun KIM
;
Kiwan HAN
;
Bumseok JEONG
;
Jae Jin KIM
;
Kee NAMKOONG
;
Ji Woong KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. cortex@konyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Empathy;
magnetic resonance imaging;
functional neuroimaging;
medial prefrontal cortex;
anterior cingulate cortex
- MeSH:
Empathy;
Functional Neuroimaging;
Gyrus Cinguli;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Memory;
Prefrontal Cortex
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2017;58(5):1061-1065
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Empathy is the ability to identify with or make a vicariously experience of another person's feelings or thoughts based on memory and/or self-referential mental simulation. The default mode network in particular is related to self-referential empathy. In order to elucidate the possible neural mechanisms underlying empathy, we investigated the functional connectivity of the default mode network in subjects from a general population. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 19 low-empathy subjects and 18 medium-empathy subjects. An independent component analysis was used to identify the default mode network, and differences in functional connectivity strength were compared between the two groups. The low-empathy group showed lower functional connectivity of the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann areas 9 and 32) within the default mode network, compared to the medium-empathy group. The results of the present study suggest that empathy is related to functional connectivity of the medial prefrontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex within the default mode network. Functional decreases in connectivity among low-empathy subjects may reflect an impairment of self-referential mental simulation.
