Connecting Empathy and Neuroscience

In contrast to sympathy, empathy allows us to put ourselves in the shoes of another. Furthermore, it provides neuroscientists with the tools for understanding deep and complex cognitive processes when studying facial mimicry and emotions. Isabel Dziobek, Laura Kaltwasser and Sebastian Korb will provide a local perspective on the current developments in the field of neurobiology and empathy. Psychometric studies have proven that more prosocial individuals seem to be more sensitive to the distress and to recognize the fear of others. Alternatively, what happens in conditions such as autism? Would the use of medication hold the possibility to increase trust and improve emotion perception? Can we actually train the brain to be more social?

Moderator: Teresa Dillon

Photo © Isabel Dziobek, Sonofapreacherman, 500px, Flickr