The Experts below are selected from a list of 321 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Jamie Ward - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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common and distinct neural mechanisms associated with the conscious Experience of Vicarious pain
Cortex, 2017Co-Authors: Thomas Gricejackson, Michael J Banissy, Hugo D Critchley, Jamie WardAbstract:Abstract Vicarious pain perception has been an influential paradigm for investigating the social neuroscience of empathy. This research has highlighted the importance of both shared representations (i.e., involved in both experiencing first-hand physical pain and observing pain) and mechanisms that discriminate between self and other. The majority of this research has been conducted in healthy younger adults using a group-average approach. There are, however, known inter-individual differences that can contribute to Vicarious Experience. One factor relates to the degree to which individuals Experience reportable pain-like sensations/feelings in response to seeing others in pain. Here we conduct the first systematic investigation of the neural basis of conscious Vicarious pain in a large sample of participants. Using cluster analysis, we firstly demonstrate that consciously experiencing the pain of others is surprisingly prevalent and, exists in two forms: one group Experiences sensory and localised pain whilst the other group report affective and non-localised Experiences. Building on this, we used electroencephalography (EEG) and structural brain imaging to examine the neural correlates of Vicarious pain in the three different groups. We find that the dominant electrophysiological marker used to index Vicarious pain in previous studies (mu and beta suppression) was only found to be significant in the sensory and localised pain responder group (with a sensitive null result in the ‘neurotypical’ group). Finally, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) we identify a common differences in the two pain responder groups relative to typical adults; namely increased grey-matter in insula and somatosensory cortex and reduced grey matter in the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ). We suggest that the latter reflects a reduced ability to distinguish bodily self and other, and may be a common factor distinguishing conscious from unconscious Vicarious Experience.
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from mirror touch synesthesia to models of Vicarious Experience a reply to commentaries
Cognitive Neuroscience, 2017Co-Authors: Jamie Ward, Michael J BanissyAbstract:In this reply to the eight commentaries to our article, we discuss three important challenges. First, we discuss the relationship of mirror-touch to other forms of synesthesia. We note that synesthetic Experiences are generally not mistaken as veridical but this does not mean that they lack percept-like qualities. We acknowledge that neither Threshold Theory nor Self-Other Theory offer a direct account of other forms of synesthesia, although we discuss how the latter could. Second, we discuss alternative explanations. Notably predictive coding offers a different way of framing our current theory, and extending it to related phenomena. Finally, we discuss how mirror-touch synesthesia may relate to other atypical Experiences of body ownership such as the rubber hand illusion, and somatoparaphrenia.
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The Neural Underpinnings of Vicarious Experience - The neural underpinnings of Vicarious Experience
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2014Co-Authors: Bernadette M. Fitzgibbon, Jamie Ward, Peter G. EnticottAbstract:In recent decades there has been an explosion of empirical research into the social cognitive processes that underlie our social interactions. Coinciding with, or perhaps driving, the interest within this area is the development of modern neuroscientific techniques bringing real world Experiences into the laboratory to produce biological models of how we Experience and interact with other people. In this research topic, we present a range of expert manuscripts that focus on one primary aspect of social cognition: the ability to recognize, understand and, in some cases, “feel” the Experience of another person. To date, neuroscience research in this area has identified shared neural networks whereby we process another's action, emotion or sensation through overlapping brain regions as if we were carrying out that same action or experiencing that same emotion or sensation. Intriguingly, this research has shown that such Vicarious activation of brain networks can span from an automatic and unconscious process through to an overt Experience of the emotion or sensation of that observed in another person. By investigating Vicarious processes as well as exploring the influence of interpersonal characteristics such as empathy, we are taking a step toward better understanding the relationship between the social brain and social behavior. This includes the decision to make a pro-social response vs. fleeing potentially dangerous, or even socially awkward situations, such as witnessing another person embarrass themselves. Moreover, this research area has substantial implications for understanding disease and improving treatment options for people who Experience psychiatric or neurological illness including autism spectrum disorder, where impairment in aspects of social functioning is a key feature. However, even beyond disorders where social function may be diagnostic, social impairments and difficulties in social relationships can have substantial functional consequences, as is often reported in illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia. Ultimately, understanding the neurobiology of social processes will provide the platform for targeted and appropriate treatment interventions. In the work that follows, this research topic brings together a number of opinions, perspectives, hypotheses and theories, general commentaries, reviews and original research articles. Several key themes can be identified ranging from: Definitional considerations including the distinction between Vicarious and empathic Experiences (Paulus et al., 2013), and why overt Vicarious Experiences may not represent a new form of synaesthesia, where sensory input in one domain results in a sensory Experience in another (Rothen and Meier, 2013); Exploration of Vicarious shared neural Experiences in the general population from physical touch and injury (Bufalari and Ionta, 2013) through to ostracism (Wesselmann et al., 2013) and how Vicarious Experience may differ between people according to attention (Morelli and Lieberman, 2013), interpersonal and personality differences (Schaefer et al., 2013; Vandenbroucke et al., 2013) such as empathy, and the influence of psychopathic (Marcoux et al., 2013) or autistic (Cooper et al., 2013) traits. Additional modulating factors of Vicarious Experience are also considered including expertise seen in physicians (Newton, 2013), the influence of the mother-child bond (Manini et al., 2013), the experimental administration of oxytocin and the effect of visual orientation (i.e., self vs. other) (Burgess et al., 2013). The investigation of atypical Vicarious Experiences in the general population such as shared touch (Banissy and Ward, 2013) and pain and how feeling the pain of others may be linked with self-other confusion and prior pain Experience (Derbyshire et al., 2013). Through to a physiological study exploring the Experience of misophonia, describing a sensitivity to sound that can substantially limit ones ability to interact with others (Edelstein et al., 2013), and a commentary of why Vicarious perception may drive contagious scratching (Ward et al., 2013); The discussion of Vicarious Experiences in atypical populations including evidence against an impairment in shared neural networks in ASD (Enticott et al., 2013) and an argument for how models of Vicarious pain Experience may help us understand the relationship between core ASD symptoms better (Fitzgibbon et al., 2013); Finally, the role of Vicarious Experience including Vicarious motor system activation in understanding the behaviors of others (Avenanti et al., 2013) and how group membership may influence such processing and influence how we interact with others (Eres and Molenberghs, 2013). Taken together, this research topic presents cutting edge research in a growing field which, while by no means definitive, represents exciting developments in the neurobiology underlying sharing Experiences with others.
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the neural underpinnings of Vicarious Experience
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2014Co-Authors: Bernadette M. Fitzgibbon, Jamie Ward, Peter G. EnticottAbstract:In recent decades there has been an explosion of empirical research into the social cognitive processes that underlie our social interactions. Coinciding with, or perhaps driving, the interest within this area is the development of modern neuroscientific techniques bringing real world Experiences into the laboratory to produce biological models of how we Experience and interact with other people. In this research topic, we present a range of expert manuscripts that focus on one primary aspect of social cognition: the ability to recognize, understand and, in some cases, “feel” the Experience of another person. To date, neuroscience research in this area has identified shared neural networks whereby we process another's action, emotion or sensation through overlapping brain regions as if we were carrying out that same action or experiencing that same emotion or sensation. Intriguingly, this research has shown that such Vicarious activation of brain networks can span from an automatic and unconscious process through to an overt Experience of the emotion or sensation of that observed in another person. By investigating Vicarious processes as well as exploring the influence of interpersonal characteristics such as empathy, we are taking a step toward better understanding the relationship between the social brain and social behavior. This includes the decision to make a pro-social response vs. fleeing potentially dangerous, or even socially awkward situations, such as witnessing another person embarrass themselves. Moreover, this research area has substantial implications for understanding disease and improving treatment options for people who Experience psychiatric or neurological illness including autism spectrum disorder, where impairment in aspects of social functioning is a key feature. However, even beyond disorders where social function may be diagnostic, social impairments and difficulties in social relationships can have substantial functional consequences, as is often reported in illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia. Ultimately, understanding the neurobiology of social processes will provide the platform for targeted and appropriate treatment interventions. In the work that follows, this research topic brings together a number of opinions, perspectives, hypotheses and theories, general commentaries, reviews and original research articles. Several key themes can be identified ranging from: Definitional considerations including the distinction between Vicarious and empathic Experiences (Paulus et al., 2013), and why overt Vicarious Experiences may not represent a new form of synaesthesia, where sensory input in one domain results in a sensory Experience in another (Rothen and Meier, 2013); Exploration of Vicarious shared neural Experiences in the general population from physical touch and injury (Bufalari and Ionta, 2013) through to ostracism (Wesselmann et al., 2013) and how Vicarious Experience may differ between people according to attention (Morelli and Lieberman, 2013), interpersonal and personality differences (Schaefer et al., 2013; Vandenbroucke et al., 2013) such as empathy, and the influence of psychopathic (Marcoux et al., 2013) or autistic (Cooper et al., 2013) traits. Additional modulating factors of Vicarious Experience are also considered including expertise seen in physicians (Newton, 2013), the influence of the mother-child bond (Manini et al., 2013), the experimental administration of oxytocin and the effect of visual orientation (i.e., self vs. other) (Burgess et al., 2013). The investigation of atypical Vicarious Experiences in the general population such as shared touch (Banissy and Ward, 2013) and pain and how feeling the pain of others may be linked with self-other confusion and prior pain Experience (Derbyshire et al., 2013). Through to a physiological study exploring the Experience of misophonia, describing a sensitivity to sound that can substantially limit ones ability to interact with others (Edelstein et al., 2013), and a commentary of why Vicarious perception may drive contagious scratching (Ward et al., 2013); The discussion of Vicarious Experiences in atypical populations including evidence against an impairment in shared neural networks in ASD (Enticott et al., 2013) and an argument for how models of Vicarious pain Experience may help us understand the relationship between core ASD symptoms better (Fitzgibbon et al., 2013); Finally, the role of Vicarious Experience including Vicarious motor system activation in understanding the behaviors of others (Avenanti et al., 2013) and how group membership may influence such processing and influence how we interact with others (Eres and Molenberghs, 2013). Taken together, this research topic presents cutting edge research in a growing field which, while by no means definitive, represents exciting developments in the neurobiology underlying sharing Experiences with others.
Amalraj Raja - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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seeing other women breastfeed how Vicarious Experience relates to breastfeeding intention and behaviour
Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2009Co-Authors: Pat Hoddinott, Thilo Kroll, Amalraj RajaAbstract:: Vicarious Experience gained through seeing women breastfeed may influence infant feeding decisions and self-efficacy. Our aim was to measure the attributes of seeing breastfeeding and to investigate how these relate to feeding intention (primary outcome) and behaviour (secondary outcome). First, we developed a Seeing Breastfeeding Scale (SBS), which consisted of five attitudes (Cronbach's alpha of 0.86) to most recently observed breastfeeding: 'I felt embarrassed'; 'I felt uncomfortable'; 'I did not know where to look'; and 'It was lovely' and 'It didn't bother me'. Test-retest reliability showed agreement (with one exception, kappas ranged from 0.36 to 0.71). Second, we conducted a longitudinal survey of 418 consecutive pregnant women in rural Scotland. We selected the 259 women who had never breastfed before for further analysis. Following multiple adjustments, women who agreed that 'It was lovely to see her breastfeed' were more than six times more likely to intend to breastfeed compared with women who disagreed with the statement [odds ratio (OR) 6.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.85-15.82]. Women who completed their full-time education aged 17 (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.41-6.77) or aged 19 (OR 7.41 95% CI 2.51-21.94) were more likely to initiate breastfeeding. Women who reported seeing breastfeeding within the preceding 12 months were significantly more likely to agree with the statement 'It was lovely to see her breastfeed' (P = 0.02). Positive attitudes to recently seen breastfeeding are more important determinants of feeding intention than age of first seeing breastfeeding, the relationship to the person seen and seeing breastfeeding in the media.
Mitchell D Feldman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Vicarious Experience affects patients treatment preferences for depression
PLOS ONE, 2012Co-Authors: Seth A Berkowitz, Robert A Bell, Richard L Kravitz, Mitchell D FeldmanAbstract:Author(s): Berkowitz, Seth A; Bell, Robert A; Kravitz, Richard L; Feldman, Mitchell D | Abstract: Depression is common in primary care but often under-treated. Personal Experiences with depression can affect adherence to therapy, but the effect of Vicarious Experience is unstudied. We sought to evaluate the association between a patient's Vicarious Experiences with depression (those of friends or family) and treatment preferences for depressive symptoms.We sampled 1054 English and/or Spanish speaking adult subjects from July through December 2008, randomly selected from the 2008 California Behavioral Risk Factor Survey System, regarding depressive symptoms and treatment preferences. We then constructed a unidimensional scale using item analysis that reflects attitudes about antidepressant pharmacotherapy. This became the dependent variable in linear regression analyses to examine the association between Vicarious Experiences and treatment preferences for depressive symptoms.Our sample was 68% female, 91% white, and 13% Hispanic. Age ranged from 18-94 years. Mean PHQ-9 score was 4.3; 14.5% of respondents had a PHQ-9 score g9.0, consistent with active depressive symptoms. Analyses controlling for current depression symptoms and socio-demographic factors found that in patients both with (coefficient 1.08, p = 0.03) and without (coefficient 0.77, p = 0.03) a personal history of depression, having a Vicarious Experience (family and friend, respectively) with depression is associated with a more favorable attitude towards antidepressant medications.Patients with Vicarious Experiences of depression express more acceptance of pharmacotherapy. Conversely, patients lacking Vicarious Experiences of depression have more negative attitudes towards antidepressants. When discussing treatment with patients, clinicians should inquire about Vicarious Experiences of depression. This information may identify patients at greater risk for non-adherence and lead to more tailored patient-specific education about treatment.
Michael J Banissy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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common and distinct neural mechanisms associated with the conscious Experience of Vicarious pain
Cortex, 2017Co-Authors: Thomas Gricejackson, Michael J Banissy, Hugo D Critchley, Jamie WardAbstract:Abstract Vicarious pain perception has been an influential paradigm for investigating the social neuroscience of empathy. This research has highlighted the importance of both shared representations (i.e., involved in both experiencing first-hand physical pain and observing pain) and mechanisms that discriminate between self and other. The majority of this research has been conducted in healthy younger adults using a group-average approach. There are, however, known inter-individual differences that can contribute to Vicarious Experience. One factor relates to the degree to which individuals Experience reportable pain-like sensations/feelings in response to seeing others in pain. Here we conduct the first systematic investigation of the neural basis of conscious Vicarious pain in a large sample of participants. Using cluster analysis, we firstly demonstrate that consciously experiencing the pain of others is surprisingly prevalent and, exists in two forms: one group Experiences sensory and localised pain whilst the other group report affective and non-localised Experiences. Building on this, we used electroencephalography (EEG) and structural brain imaging to examine the neural correlates of Vicarious pain in the three different groups. We find that the dominant electrophysiological marker used to index Vicarious pain in previous studies (mu and beta suppression) was only found to be significant in the sensory and localised pain responder group (with a sensitive null result in the ‘neurotypical’ group). Finally, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) we identify a common differences in the two pain responder groups relative to typical adults; namely increased grey-matter in insula and somatosensory cortex and reduced grey matter in the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ). We suggest that the latter reflects a reduced ability to distinguish bodily self and other, and may be a common factor distinguishing conscious from unconscious Vicarious Experience.
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from mirror touch synesthesia to models of Vicarious Experience a reply to commentaries
Cognitive Neuroscience, 2017Co-Authors: Jamie Ward, Michael J BanissyAbstract:In this reply to the eight commentaries to our article, we discuss three important challenges. First, we discuss the relationship of mirror-touch to other forms of synesthesia. We note that synesthetic Experiences are generally not mistaken as veridical but this does not mean that they lack percept-like qualities. We acknowledge that neither Threshold Theory nor Self-Other Theory offer a direct account of other forms of synesthesia, although we discuss how the latter could. Second, we discuss alternative explanations. Notably predictive coding offers a different way of framing our current theory, and extending it to related phenomena. Finally, we discuss how mirror-touch synesthesia may relate to other atypical Experiences of body ownership such as the rubber hand illusion, and somatoparaphrenia.
Patricia L Lockwood - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the anatomy of empathy Vicarious Experience and disorders of social cognition
Behavioural Brain Research, 2016Co-Authors: Patricia L LockwoodAbstract:Empathy, the ability to Vicariously Experience and to understand the affect of other people, is fundamental for successful social-cognitive ability and behaviour. Empathy is thought to be a critical facilitator of prosocial behaviour and is disrupted in a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Research has begun to uncover the neural basis of such ‘Vicarious Experience’, which has been studied as a proxy measure of empathy. Together, these studies have identified portions of the insula and anterior cingulate cortex as critically involved. A key debate is whether overlapping or non-overlapping brain areas respond to personal and Vicarious Experience. This review will highlight emerging evidence for both types of brain response. Importantly, animal models have suggested that there are central divisions between the anterior cingulate gyrus and anterior cingulate sulcus that may be crucial for understanding social behaviour. Attention to this specific anatomy of Vicarious processing could therefore help shed light on the functional profile of empathy. Studies in individuals with psychopathy and autism spectrum disorders have found that Vicarious Experience is atypical. However, the precise nature of these atypicalities is mixed. Understanding the mechanisms of Vicarious Experience can enhance our knowledge of the neural basis of empathy and, ultimately, help those with disorders of social cognition and behaviour.
