Abstract
Vicarious reward is a phenomenon in which an individual feels as if he/she has received a reward as the result of watching someone else receive a reward. In this study, we used electroencephalography to investigate brain activity while participants watched a preferred player win a competitive game (Rock-Paper-Scissors game). In the experimental task, movie clips showed right hand of the two players and played Rock-Paper-Scissors game. We asked participants to explicitly support or “cheer” for a specific player, and then examined brain activity associated with vicarious reward. For the observed hand movement, previous findings showed that the event-related desynchronization of mu band (8–14 Hz) appeared at the contra-lateral central electrode to the observed hand (If someone sees the right-hand movement, the left central electrode shows the event-related desynchronization of mu-band). During observation of the player, we detected event-related desynchronization of mu band activity in the contra-lateral central electrode as well as mid-frontal beta band (15–22 Hz) activation when the preferred player won. Furthermore, functional connectivity analysis revealed a strong phase synchronization between the contra-lateral central electrode and mid-frontal electrode in the mu band when participants received the vicarious reward. Cross-frequency coupling analysis revealed functional integration between the mu and beta bands at mid-frontal electrode. These results indicate the interaction of mu band observed at contra-lateral electrode and beta band observed at mid-frontal electrode coupling, suggesting a link between the mirror neuron system and the reward system during vicarious reward.
Highlights
Humans are physically separated, we sometimes feel like we are psychologically connected to the people around us
We found significantly greater mu ERD in the action period [paired sample two-tailed t-test, t(15) = 2.79, p < 0.05] compared with that in the baseline period (Figure 3), indicating that the mirror neuron system (MNS) was activated during action observation in the Action observation (AO) session
Our experiment revealed beta oscillatory activity (BOA) at the mid-frontal electrode during vicarious reward
Summary
Humans are physically separated, we sometimes feel like we are psychologically connected to the people around us. The phenomenon by which we vicariously experience the sensations and emotions of others, which is called empathy, is important for social life. Functional Connectivity During Vicarious Reward on negative empathy, such as that associated with pain or suffering (Singer et al, 2004, 2006; Jackson et al, 2005, 2006; Bird et al, 2010; Hein et al, 2010; Lamm et al, 2011). Empathy does refer to vicarious feelings of the pain of another individual but is related to vicarious positive experiences and feelings of happiness. One form of positive empathy is vicarious reward, in which we experience rewards given to others as if we receive them ourselves (Lockwood, 2016)
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