The role of trait empathy in the processing of observed actions in a false-belief task.

ABSTRACT: Empathic brain responses are characterized by overlapping activations between active experience and observation of an emotion in another person, with the pattern for observation being modulated by trait empathy. Also for self-performed and observed errors, similar brain activity has been described, but findings concerning the role of empathy are mixed. We hypothesized that trait empathy modulates the processing of observed responses if expectations concerning the response are based on the beliefs of the observed person. In the present study, we utilized a false-belief task in which observed person's and observer's task-related knowledge were dissociated and errors and correct responses could be expected or unexpected. While theta power was generally modulated by the expectancy of the obser

SUBMITTER: Bellebaum C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7171373 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature