Neural mechanisms of modulations of empathy and altruism by beliefs of others’ pain

  1. Taoyu Wu
  2. Shihui Han  Is a corresponding author
  1. School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, PKU-IDG/MGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, China
7 figures, 1 table and 22 additional files

Figures

Behavioral results in Experiment 1.

(a) Mean rating scores of pain intensity in the 1st_round and 2nd_round tests. (b) Mean amounts of monetary donations in the 1st_round and 2nd_round tests. Shown are group means (large dots), standard deviation (bars), measures of each individual participant (small dots), and distribution (violin shape) in (a) and (b). (c) The associations between rating scores of pain intensity and amounts of monetary donations for patients in the 1st_round test and for actors/actresses in the 2nd_round test. (d) The associations between rating scores of pain intensity and amounts of monetary donations for patients in both the 1st_round and 2nd_round tests. (e) Rating scores of pain intensity partially mediate the relationship between patient-identity change and reduced monetary donations. (f) Rating scores of pain intensity mediate the relationship between patient-identity repetition and increased monetary donations.

Behavioral results in Experiment 2.

The relationships between intrinsic BOP (indexed by the rating score of effective medical treatments) and scores of pain intensity (a), own unpleasantness (b), and monetary donations (c), respectively, across the 16 models in the 1st_round test in each participant. The regression line of each participant is plotted in (a–c). (d–f) Mean rating scores of pain intensity, own unpleasantness, and monetary donations in the 1st_round and 2nd_round tests. (g) The associations between rating scores of pain intensity and amounts of monetary donations for patients in the 1st_round test and for 100% effective patients in the 2nd_round test across all the participants. (h) The associations between rating scores of own unpleasantness and amounts of monetary donations for patients in the 1st_round test and for 100% effective patients in the 2nd_round test across all the participants. (i) The associations between rating scores of pain intensity and amounts of monetary donations for patients in the 1st_round test and for 0% effective patients in the 2nd_round test across all the participants. (j) The associations between rating scores of own unpleasantness and amounts of monetary donations for patients in the 1st_round test and for 0% effective patients in the 2nd_round test across all the participants. (k) Rating scores of pain intensity change partially mediate the relationship between decreased BOP and changes in monetary donations. (l) Rating scores of pain intensity change fail to mediate the relationship between enhanced BOP and changes in monetary donations. Shown are group means (large dots), standard deviation (bars), measures of each individual participant (small dots), and distribution (violin shape) in (d–f). BOP, beliefs of others’ pain.

EEG results of Experiment 3.

(a) Mean rating scores of pain intensity to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with patient or actor/actress identities. (b) ERPs to faces with patient or actor/actress identities at frontal electrodes. The voltage topography shows the scalp distribution of the P2 amplitude with the maximum over the central/frontal region. (c) Mean differential P2 amplitudes to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with patient or actor/actress identities. The voltage topographies illustrate the scalp distribution of the P2 difference waves to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with patient or actor/actress identities, respectively. Shown are group means (large dots), standard deviation (bars), measures of each individual participant (small dots), and distribution (violin shape) in (a) and (c). EEG, electroencephalography; ERP, event-related potential.

EEG results of Experiment 4.

(a) Mean rating scores of pain intensity to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with Lion or Tiger team identities. (b) ERPs to faces with Lion/Tiger team identities at frontal electrodes. The voltage topography shows the scalp distribution of the P2 amplitude with the maximum over the central/frontal region. (c) Mean differential P2 amplitudes to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with Lion/Tiger team identities. The voltage topographies illustrate the scalp distribution of the P2 difference waves to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with the Lion/Tiger team identities, respectively. Shown are group means (large dots), standard deviation (bars), measures of each individual participant (small dots), and distribution (violin shape) in (a) and (c). EEG, electroencephalography; ERP, event-related potential.

Behavioral and EEG results of Experiment 5.

(a) Mean rating scores of pain intensity in the 1st_round and 2nd_round tests. (b) Mean amounts of monetary donations in the 1st_round and 2nd_round tests. (c) ERPs to faces with patient or actor/actress identities at frontal electrodes. The voltage topography shows the scalp distribution of the P2 amplitude with the maximum over the central/frontal region. (d) Mean differential P2 amplitudes to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with patient or actor/actress identities. The voltage topographies illustrate the scalp distribution of the P2 difference waves to pain versus neutral expressions of faces with patient or actor/actress identities, respectively. (e) Illustration of the serial mediation model of the relationship between decreased BOP and changes in monetary donations. Shown are group means (large dots), standard deviation (bars), measures of each individual participant (small dots), and distribution (violin shape) in (a), (b), and (d). BOP, beliefs of others’ pain; EEG, electroencephalography; ERP, event-related potential.

fMRI results of Experiment 6.

(a) Brain activations in response to perceived painful (vs. non-painful) stimuli applied to targets (collapsed faces with patient and actor/actress identities). (b) Brain activations in response to non-painful stimuli to patients compared to actors/actresses. (c) Illustration of the behavioral dissimilarity matrix (DM) derived from the rating scores of pain intensity across all participants. Each cell in the DM represents the mean difference in rating scores of pain intensity between each pair of conditions. (d) Brain activations that were correlated with the behavioral DM revealed in the searchlight RSA. (e) Illustration of the vicarious pain signature (defined by response to perceived noxious stimulation of body limbs) responses to patients’ and to actors/actresses’ pain. (f) Illustration of the general vicarious signature (defined by response to perceived noxious stimulation of body limbs and painful facial expressions) responses to patients’ and actors/actresses’ pain. AI, anterior insula; FG, frontal gyrus; IPL, inferior parietal lobe; ITG, inferior temporal gyrus; MFC, middle frontal cortex; mPFC, medial prefrontal cortex; PoCG, post-central gyrus; RSA, representational similarity analysis; SPL, superior parietal lobe; STS, superior temporal sulcus; TPJ, temporoparietal junction.

Figure 6—source data 1

Brain activations in response to painful vs. non-painful stimuli (collapsed faces with patient and actor/actress identities).

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-fig6-data1-v3.zip
Figure 6—source data 2

Brain activations in response to non-painful stimuli to patients compared to actors/actresses.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-fig6-data2-v3.zip
Figure 6—source data 3

Behavioral dissimilarity matrix derived from the rating scores of pain intensity across all participants.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-fig6-data3-v3.mat
Figure 6—source data 4

Brain activations that were correlated with the behavioral dissimilarity matrix revealed in the searchlight RSA.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-fig6-data4-v3.zip
Figure 6—source data 5

Data of the vicarious pain signature.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-fig6-data5-v3.csv
Figure 6—source data 6

Data of the general vicarious pain signature.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-fig6-data6-v3.csv
Appendix 1—figure 1
EEG results of the additional experiment.

(a) Mean rating scores of happy intensity related to happy and neutral expressions of faces with awardee or actor/actress identities. (b) ERPs to faces with awardee or actor/actress identities at frontal electrodes. The voltage topography shows the scalp distribution of the P570 amplitude with the maximum over the central/parietal region. (c) Mean differential P570 amplitudes to happy versus neutral expressions of faces with awardee or actor/actress identities. The voltage topographies illustrate the scalp distribution of the P570 difference waves to happy (vs. neutral) expressions of faces with awardee or actor/actress identities, respectively. Shown are group means (large dots), standard deviation (bars), measures of each individual participant (small dots), and distribution (violin shape) in (a) and (c). EEG, electroencephalography; ERP, event-related potential.

Appendix 1—figure 1—source data 1

Happy intensity rating scores and Mean differential P570 amplitudes.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-app1-fig1-data1-v3.xlsx

Tables

Appendix 1—table 1
RTs, accuracies, rating scores, numbers of ERP trials, and ERP amplitudes (mean±SD) in the additional experiment.
AwardeeActor/Actress
NeutralHappyNeutralHappy
RT (ms)654±63657±60666±64680±66
Accuracy (%)92±4.990±7.592±5.488±8.7
Happy intensity2.525±0.945.638±0.642.146±0.944.95±0.96
N1 amplitude (μV)−2.267±1.69−2.606±1.75−2.297±1.43−2.620±1.52
P2 amplitude (μV)2.544±2.642.375±2.302.940±2.562.593±2.56
P310 amplitude (μV)3.449±3.453.445±3.303.492±3.383.376±3.38
P570 amplitude (μV)4.677±2.225.379±2.154.696±2.164.950±2.11
ERP trials114±10110±13113±11108±12
Statistic valueANOVASimple effect (Identity)
ValueIdentityExpressionIdentity*ExpressionAwardeeActor/Actress
RT (ms)F13.22911.2564.733
0.7
0.91513.230
p0.0010.0020.0380.3470.001
ηp20.3130.2800.1400.0310.313
90% CI(0.094, 0.488)(0.071, 0.459)(0.004, 0.326)(0, 0.180)(0.094, 0.488)
Accuracy (%)F0.49640.5900.595
p0.487<0.0010.447
ηp20.0170.5830.020
90% CI(0, 0.150)(0.362, 0.698)(0, 0.158)
Happy IntensityF19.512422.7746.610433.364302.128
p<0.001<0.0010.016<0.001<0.001
ηp20.4020.9360.1860.9370.912
90% CI(0.166, 0.560)(0.889, 0.953)(0.021, 0.372)(0.892, 0.955)(0.849, 0.937)
N1
(95–115 ms)
F0.0319.8900.005
p0.8620.0040.944
ηp20.0010.2540.0002
90% CI(0, 0.041)(0.055, 0.436)(0, 0.007)
P2
(175–195 ms)
F6.4762.8220.441
p0.0170.1040.512
ηp20.1830.0890.015
90% CI(0.019, 0.369)(0, 0.266)(0, 0.145)
P310 (280–340 ms)F0.0120.1400.252
p0.9130.7110.619
ηp20.00040.0050.009
90% CI(0, 0.017)(0, 0.106)(0, 0.125)
P570 (500–700 ms)F1.94820.7524.83220.8803.375
p0.173<0.0010.036<0.0010.076
ηp20.0630.4170.1430.4190.104
90% CI(0, 0.232)(0.180, 0.572)(0.005, 0.328)(0.181, 0.573)(0, 0.285)
  1. Note: Effect size is indexed as the partial eta-squared value. The 90% CIs are reported for partial eta-squared value.

Additional files

Source code 1

Scripts for plotting Figures 1a, b, 2d, e, f, 3a, 4a, 5a and b.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-code1-v3.zip
Source code 2

Scripts for plotting Figures 3c, 4c and 5d.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-code2-v3.zip
Source code 3

Scripts for the whole-brain analysis in Figure 6a and b.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-code3-v3.zip
Source code 4

Scripts for plotting Figure 6c.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-code4-v3.zip
Source code 5

Scripts for plotting Figure 6d.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-code5-v3.zip
Supplementary file 1

Statistical results of the mediation analysis (pain intensity mediated the relationship between decreased BOP and monetary donations) in Experiment 1.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp1-v3.docx
Supplementary file 2

Statistical results of the mediation analysis (pain intensity mediated the relationship between enhanced BOP and monetary donations) in Experiment 1.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp2-v3.docx
Supplementary file 3

Pain intensity, unpleasantness, and monetary donation (mean±SD) in Experiment 2.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp3-v3.docx
Supplementary file 4

Statistical results of the mediation analysis (pain intensity mediated the relationship between decreased BOP and monetary donations) in Experiment 2.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp4-v3.docx
Supplementary file 5

Statistical results of the mediation analysis (pain intensity mediated the relationship between enhanced BOP and monetary donations) in Experiment 2.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp5-v3.docx
Supplementary file 6

Statistical results of the mediation analysis (unpleasantness mediated the relationship between decreased BOP and monetary donations) in Experiment 2.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp6-v3.docx
Supplementary file 7

Statistical results of the mediation analysis (unpleasantness mediated the relationship between enhanced BOP and monetary donations) in Experiment 2.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp7-v3.docx
Supplementary file 8

Statistical results of reaction times, accuracies, and rating scores (mean±SD) in Experiment 3.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp8-v3.docx
Supplementary file 9

Statistical results of mean ERP amplitudes (mean±SD) in Experiment 3.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp9-v3.docx
Supplementary file 10

Statistical results of reaction times, accuracies, and rating scores (mean±SD) in Experiment 4.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp10-v3.docx
Supplementary file 11

Statistical results of mean ERP amplitudes (mean±SD) in Experiment 4.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp11-v3.docx
Supplementary file 12

Statistical results of reaction times, accuracies, and mean ERP amplitudes (mean±SD) in Experiment 5.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp12-v3.docx
Supplementary file 13

Results of the serial mediation analysis in Experiment 5.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp13-v3.docx
Supplementary file 14

Statistical results of reaction times, accuracies and rating scores (mean±SD) in Experiment 6.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp14-v3.docx
Supplementary file 15

Number of ERP trials for analyses (mean±SD) in Experiments 3–5.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-supp15-v3.docx
Transparent reporting form
https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-transrepform-v3.docx
Appendix 1—figure 1—source data 1

Happy intensity rating scores and Mean differential P570 amplitudes.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/66043/elife-66043-app1-fig1-data1-v3.xlsx

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  1. Taoyu Wu
  2. Shihui Han
(2021)
Neural mechanisms of modulations of empathy and altruism by beliefs of others’ pain
eLife 10:e66043.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.66043