Abstract
BackgroundNeuroimaging studies continue to indicate the major role the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays in processing empathic responses. Error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related potential (ERP) thought to arise from the ACC, has been found to correlate with scores for individual empathic personality. This study investigated the relationship between empathic personality traits and the amplitude of feedback-related negativity (FRN), an ERP sourced from the ACC and similar to the ERN, using a task involving feedback of monetary gains or losses.MethodsSixteen healthy participants answered an empathy trait questionnaire and performed a gambling task to elicit FRN. Because FRN amplitude is thought to be associated with attention, motivation, emotional state, and anxiety trait, we performed a partial correlation analysis between the empathic trait score and FRN amplitude while controlling for variables.ResultsIn partial correlation analysis, FRN amplitude was significantly inversely correlated with scores for personal distress and marginally correlated with scores for empathic concern and with total average score.DiscussionThe study revealed for the first time an association between FRN and emotional empathic traits, after controlling for variables that can affect FRN amplitude. However, we also found a reversed directional correlation contrary to our expectations. This fronto-central brain activity may be associated with empathic properties via dopaminergic neuronal function. Future study using these electric potentials as experimental tools is expected to help elucidate the neurological mechanism of empathy.
Highlights
Neuroimaging studies continue to indicate the major role the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays in processing empathic responses
feedback-related negativity (FRN) amplitude was significantly positively correlated with scores for personal distress and marginally positively correlated with scores for empathic concern and with total average score
Partial correlation analysis between empathic trait scores and FRN amplitude, with subjective assessment scores, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-state and STAI-trait scores, and individual differences in event-related potential (ERP) amplitude set as controlled variables, revealed that FRN amplitude was significantly inversely correlated with scores for personal distress and marginally correlated with scores for empathic concern and with total average score
Summary
Neuroimaging studies continue to indicate the major role the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays in processing empathic responses. Error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related potential (ERP) thought to arise from the ACC, has been found to correlate with scores for individual empathic personality. This study investigated the relationship between empathic personality traits and the amplitude of feedback-related negativity (FRN), an ERP sourced from the ACC and similar to the ERN, using a task involving feedback of monetary gains or losses. Neuroimaging studies have consistently shown that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a major role in processing empathic responses [2,3,4]. Another component related to error processing is feedback-related negativity (FRN), which is a negative. FRN appears approximately 200 to 300 ms after error feedback presentation of executive tasks. ERN is acquired by response-locked EEG averaging, while FRN is acquired by stimulus-locked averaging
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
