Feeling Other People's Pain: An Event-Related Potential Study on Facial Attractiveness and Emotional Empathy
Natalia Kopiś-Posiej, Piotr Francuz, Emilia Zabielska‐Mendyk, Paweł Augustynowicz
Abstract
= 24) viewed photos of physically attractive and unattractive men and women during painful (a needle in the check) and nonpainful stimulation (Q-tip touching the skin). N1 and P2 components were sensitive to face attractiveness. The amplitude of the N2 component was more positive for the stimuli associated with pain than for neutral stimuli, but only for unattractive faces. Therefore, we suggest that a difference in the N2 amplitude to pain in unattractive faces most likely reflects a difference in emphatic response depending on facial attractiveness.
Topics & Concepts
EmpathyPsychologyAttractivenessFeelingCognitionLate positive componentCognitive psychologyNeuroimagingEvent-related potentialFace (sociological concept)Social psychologyNeuroscienceSociologySocial sciencePsychoanalysisOlfactory and Sensory Function StudiesFace Recognition and PerceptionNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies