Neural Basis of Observational Fear Learning: A Potential Model of Affective Empathy

Pathogens, odors, and disgust in rodents

“…The socially acquired responses were biased, being greatest when the demonstrator was either kin or a familiar individual ( Kavaliers et al, 2017 ). This relationship dependent social transmission of disgust through various sensory cues is consistent with the social learning of fear and empathy for fear ( Keum and Shin, 2019 ). Vicarious social learning may, thus, contribute to the population spread of disgust associated avoidance responses to ongoing and potential parasite threats.…”

“…Social learning of parasite detection and proper avoidance behavior depends on the information content of the observed behavior, as well as how this information is used by the observer. There is suggestive evidence from mice for social learning of the affective states of others, encompassing emotional contagion and potentially empathy for disgust and fear ( Kavaliers et., 2017 ; Keum and Shin, 2019 ; Panskepp, 2011) .…”

“…Though it should be noted that this OTR antagonist has also been shown to reduce sexual approach ( Blitzer et al, 2017 ). OT has also been implicated in the mediations of empathy in humans and empathy like behaviors in rats and mice and was found to enhance vicarious socially acquired fear responses in mice though effects at the anterior cingulate cortex ( Keum and Shin, 2019 ; Pisansky et al 2018 ).…”

When Implicit Prosociality Trumps Selfishness: The Neural Valuation System Underpins More Optimal Choices When Learning to Avoid Harm to Others Than to Oneself

“…Activation of the VMPFC related to valuation affecting others appears further modulated by brain areas connected to social cognition, such as the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), a region linked to self-other distinction and perspective-taking (Hare et al, 2010;Janowski et al, 2013). With respect to outcome evaluation, it has been found that learning based on the delivery of pain as a feedback signal engages the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior insula (AI), both when pain is directed to the self, and when witnessing pain in conspecifics (Olsson et al, 2007;Lindström et al, 2018;Keum and Shin, 2019). It is thus likely that these brain areas also underpin prosocial learning, but the extent of their involvement is unknown.…”

Effects of maternal deprivation and complex housing on pro-social behavior in rats: An automated, operant task examining motivation to liberate a trapped conspecific

“…the capacity to experience and share the emotions of others, is considered an evolutionary well-preserved mechanism that helps individuals to survive, not only in a dangerous savanna, but also within social groups (Preston and De Waal, 2001;de Waal, 2008;Kim et al, 2019) . Rodents, like many other animals, experience and learn from emotional contagion, as shown in studies on emotional contagion for pain (Church, 1959;Langford, 2006;Langford et al, 2010;Atsak et al, 2011;Pereira et al, 2012;Li et al, 2014;Cruz et al, 2020) and observational fear conditioning (Kavaliers et al, 2003;Jeon et al, 2010;Kim et al, 2010;Allsop et al, 2018;Keum and Shin, 2019;Nomura et al, 2019).…”