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What surprising changes do facial expressions of pain trigger in your brain?
Pain is a universal human emotion, and the expression of it on our faces triggers a surprising range of brain changes. These changes not only affect our emotions, but also our interactions with others, especially how we respond to the pain of others.
Facial expressions of pain trigger a resonance mechanism in the viewer's brain, allowing people to empathize with the pain of others.
The Beginning of Empathy
Empathy is a uniquely human ability that allows us to understand and perceive the emotional states of others. When someone faces an expression of pain, specific neural circuits are activated within our brains, a process known as resonance. Research shows that two areas of the brain - the inferior frontal gyrus and the inferior parietal lobule - are closely related to empathy. This suggests that our nervous systems are closely connected to the emotional states of others.
The effects of painful facial expressions
The response to facial expressions of pain is not only emotional, but also physiological. One study looked at brain activity while subjects watched videos showing different emotional expressions, including pain, happiness, and neutral emotions. The results showed that when faced with painful expressions, the subjects' brain wave activity was particularly obvious, showing a response consistent with increased painful emotions, especially reaching a peak between 600 and 1000 milliseconds.
When we see someone else in pain, our brains automatically adjust to produce physiological reactions similar to those in pain.
Pain processing areas in the brain
Scientific research has shown that a neural network called the "pain matrix" is specifically responsible for processing painful feelings and their resonance. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown that whether one experiences pain oneself or observes the pain of others, the brain areas involved include the contralateral sensorimotor cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. Activation of these brain areas enables us to respond emotionally to the suffering of others.
Personality and the impact of pain empathy
Personality traits have a significant impact on pain empathy. For example, research suggests that for some people with high threat sensitivity, their empathy responses are relatively strong. Relatively speaking, the existence of certain social-level biases can also affect a person's empathy for the suffering of others. People of high social status tend to show more empathy when faced with the suffering of people of low social status.
Empathy of medical staff
In medical settings, doctors often have to deal with patients' pain. The study found that doctors adjust their automatic responses to pain in this situation, perhaps for self-protection or to maintain professionalism. Compared to the general population, doctors activate more higher-order cognitive functions when observing distress, enabling them to better respond to their patients’ needs.
Conclusion and Thoughts
Human pain empathy plays an important role in social relationships, not only promoting mutual support and understanding, but also influencing the perception of pain. What we can think about from this is: In today’s rapidly changing society, how can we cultivate and enhance our sensitivity to the suffering of others?
