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hy do our brains fire when we see someone in pain
We often feel a strong sense of empathy for the suffering of others, a reaction known as "pain empathy." When we witness others experiencing pain, specific areas of our brains activate and trigger cognitive and emotional responses to the other person’s suffering. Some scholars point out that this phenomenon can not only promote social cooperation among animals, but also improve the survival ability of human groups. This is because pain empathy can motivate unharmed people to help and reduce their own risk of injury.
Pain empathy connects us to others, makes us more empathetic, and drives behavioral changes that benefit society as a whole.
The process of inspiring empathy for pain
First, pain empathy originates from the brain's "resonance" phenomenon, that is, when an individual perceives the emotional state of others, the brain will produce corresponding activities. This involves the workings of the inferior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobe of the brain. Second, people need to be able to differentiate between self and other in order to respond appropriately to the feelings of others.
Painful facial expressionWhen we see someone else's facial expression of pain, such as a pursed lip or frown, these perceptual signals have an impact on our brain. Studies have shown that viewing expressions of pain triggers even stronger brain responses than other emotional expressions. Experiments have shown that the appearance of a painful expression will increase the subjects' positive brain potential between 600-1000 milliseconds.
The Pain Matrix in the BrainUsing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientists have discovered that multiple areas of the brain are involved in processing pain, which they call the "pain matrix." When observing someone else experiencing pain, the observer's brain also becomes active, indicating an empathetic response to pain.
Research shows that when an observer is in a painful situation, certain parts of the brain respond similarly to when the person is directly experiencing the pain, highlighting the neural basis of empathy.
Variety of emotional responses
Empathy for pain is not static, however. Research has found that many factors, including an individual's personality traits, social status and cultural background, can influence a person's response to the pain of others. For example, research shows that some individuals are less empathetic when faced with painful situations that are inconsistent with their own identity.
Healthcare workers’ response
Doctors face a lot of pain in their patients every day, and they need to regulate their own emotions to effectively care for patients. The study showed that even when the health care workers observed someone else's pain, certain areas of their brains associated with empathy were not as active as those of the general population. Instead, their higher-order executive functions are called upon to better manage their emotional state.
The phenomenon of lack of empathy for pain
Research also suggests that some people with mental illness may lack the ability to empathize with pain. For example, people with autism, schizophrenia, etc., are usually unable to understand or perceive the pain of others. Additionally, pessimistic traits were associated with the ability to empathize with pain, suggesting that neural pathways in the brain are affected when experiencing pain-related reactions.
Variability in Culture
There are also differences between cultures in how they express pain and empathy. For example, some cultures may emphasize tolerance and restraint, and people from such cultural backgrounds may show weaker empathy when they see others suffering. This has been clearly demonstrated in cross-cultural comparative studies.
ConclusionIn summary, the neural mechanisms of pain empathy are complex and multi-layered, covering multiple brain regions and the interaction of their functions. Our sensitivity to pain is not only related to the individual's psychological state, but is also intertwined with multiple factors such as cultural background and social status. Understanding these mechanisms not only helps us understand our own reactions, but also promotes the virtues of social care and helping others. Are we able to face the pain of others with courage and offer genuine understanding and support?
