A recent study has uncovered a brain mechanism that shapes how animals—and potentially humans—respond empathetically to others' emotions. The research, conducted by the Genetics of Cognition group at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa, Italy, sheds light on the role of emotional memory in shaping social behaviors. Led by Francesco Papaleo and in collaboration with IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, the findings were published in Nature Neuroscience.
Emotional Responses Shaped by Experience
Past emotional experiences significantly influence how individuals react to the emotions of others, according to psychological research. For instance, encountering someone in a stressful situation similar to one’s own past experiences may lead to two distinct outcomes. Some individuals exhibit empathy, increasing their sensitivity to others’ problems, while others experience self-distress, resulting in avoidance behaviors.
The IIT team has demonstrated that this phenomenon is not unique to humans. Through preclinical studies, they observed that animals also show varied emotional responses influenced by past experiences—provided those experiences mirror the ones they observe in others. This specificity suggests that animals can recognize emotional states and respond appropriately without needing direct exposure to the triggering stimuli.
A Prefrontal Cortex Connection
The researchers identified the prefrontal cortex as a central hub for regulating these empathy-related responses. Papaleo’s group pinpointed a specialized subset of neurons in this brain region that modulate emotional reactions based on prior experiences. These neurons release corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a molecule well-known for its role in stress response.
The study suggests that CRF-producing neurons function as an emotional memory mechanism. By encoding previous emotional experiences, these neurons guide an individual’s reactions to similar socio-emotional stimuli.
“Understanding these brain mechanisms with such precision could help clarify many aspects of human reactions to others’ emotions,” said Papaleo. "For example, why, based on past emotional experience, some people tend to avoid others in stress, while others are more prone to help."
Implications for Psychiatry
These findings have potential implications for understanding psychiatric conditions where social and emotional responses are impaired, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, and schizophrenia. Emotional self-distress or an inability to engage empathetically often characterizes these conditions, and the study provides a framework for exploring therapeutic strategies.
Federica Maltese, first author of the study and now a researcher at the National Research Center (CNR) in Milan, emphasized the translational potential of the research. “Identifying the specific brain mechanisms involved in modulating empathetic responses could aid clinical research in developing new targeted therapies aimed at improving the altered emotional responses observed in various psychiatric conditions,” she explained.
Publication Details
Maltese, F., Pacinelli, G., Monai, A. et al. Self-experience of a negative event alters responses to others in similar states through prefrontal cortex CRF mechanisms. Nat Neurosci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-024-01816-y