Empathy: A unitary circuit or a set of dissociable neuro-cognitive systems?
James R. Blair a1andKarina S. Perschardt a2 a1 Mood and Anxiety Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
http://blairJ@intra.nimh.nih.gov a2 Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, WC1H 3AR, England
Abstract
We question whether empathy is mediated by a unitary circuit. We argue that recent neuroimaging data indicate dissociable neural responses for different facial expressions as well as for representing others' mental states (Theory of Mind, TOM). We also argue that the general empathy disorder considered characteristic of autism and psychopathy is not general but specific for each disorder.
