Abstract
Functional neuroimaging studies have noted that brain regions supporting theory of mind (ToM) overlap remarkably with those underlying episodic memory, suggesting a link between the two processes. The present study shows that memory for others’ past experiences modulates significantly our appraisal of, and reaction to, what is happening to them currently. Participants read the life story of two characters; one had experienced a long series of love-related failures, the other a long series of work-related failures. In a later faux pas recognition task, participants reported more empathy for the character unlucky in love in love-related faux pas scenarios, and for the character unlucky at work in work-related faux pas scenarios. The memory-based modulation of empathy correlated with the number of details remembered from the characters’ life story. These results suggest that individuals use memory for other people’s past experiences to simulate how they feel in similar situations they are currently facing. The integration of ToM and memory processes allows adjusting mental state inferences to fit unique social targets, constructing an individualized ToM.
Highlights
Humans have the ability and the need to interpret the mental states of other people, including their thoughts, feelings, and intentions
Recent reviews of functional neuroimaging studies have noted that brain regions supporting theory of mind” (ToM) and cognitive empathy overlap remarkably with those underlying autobiographical memory
One may expect that participants with high levels of trait empathy, especially cognitive empathy, would be better able to adopt the perspective of the victims in the scenarios, and adjust their empathic response depending on the identity of the victim
Summary
Humans have the ability and the need to interpret the mental states of other people, including their thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Patients with lesions in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex exhibit both low self-reported cognitive empathy (Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2009) and impaired understanding of other people’s thoughts and intentions (Stone et al, 1998; Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2005; Ciaramelli et al, 2012) On this view, one may expect that participants with high levels of trait empathy, especially cognitive empathy, would be better able to adopt the perspective of the victims in the scenarios, and adjust their empathic response depending on the identity of the victim
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