共情的认知神经研究回顾

A Review of Cognitive Neuroscience Studies on Empathy

共情是指个体对他人情绪和想法的感受及理解，它在人类个体和社会的发展中起了重要作用。近年来，脑成像技术为研究共情的神经基础提供了有力的技术支持，发现了共情的关键功能脑区。基础与临床的实验证据表明，更好地理解共情的神经机制对于孤独症、反社会人格等精神障碍有重要的意义。该文对相关的研究进行了综述并对未来可能的研究方向提出了展望。

Empathy is the understandings and feelings about other people’s emotion and thoughts， which is vital for individual development and human society. Recently， the neural basis of empathy is attracting more and more attention in neuroscience research. Functional imaging studies have demonstrated activation of some key areas associated with empathy in the human brain. Basic and clinical evidence also suggests that a better understanding of neural basis of empathy has important implications for autism and anti─social personality. This article reviews empathy─related research and highlights its possible future.