scholarly journals Another’s pain in my brain: No evidence that placebo analgesia affects the sensory-discriminative component in empathy for pain

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Hartmann ◽  
Markus Rütgen ◽  
Federica Riva ◽  
Claus Lamm
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Body Part ◽  
Self Report ◽  
List Type ◽  
Placebo Analgesia ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Empathy For Pain ◽  
The Right

AbstractThe shared representations account of empathy suggests that sharing other people’s emotions relies on neural processes similar to those engaged when directly experiencing such emotions. Recent research corroborated this by showing that placebo analgesia resulted in reduced pain empathy and decreased activation in shared neural networks. However, those studies did not report any placebo-related variation of somatosensory engagement during pain empathy. The experimental paradigms used in these studies did not direct attention towards a specific body part in pain, which may explain the absence of effects for somatosensation. The main objective of this preregistered study was to implement a paradigm overcoming this limitation, and to investigate whether placebo analgesia may also modulate the sensory-discriminative component of empathy for pain. We induced a localized, first-hand placebo analgesia effect in the right hand of 45 participants by means of a placebo gel and conditioning techniques, and compared this to the left hand as a control condition. Participants underwent a pain task in the MRI scanner, receiving painful or non-painful electrical stimulation on their left or right hand, or witnessing another person receiving such stimulation. In contrast to a robust localized placebo analgesia effect for self-experienced pain, the empathy condition showed no differences between the two hands, neither for behavioral nor neural responses. We thus report no evidence for somatosensory sharing in empathy, while replicating previous studies showing overlapping brain activity in the affective-motivational component for first-hand and empathy for pain. Hence, in a more rigorous test aiming to overcome limitations of previous work, we again find no causal evidence for the engagement of somatosensory sharing in empathy. Our study refines the understanding of the neural underpinnings of empathy for pain, and the use of placebo analgesia in investigating such models.HighlightsInvestigated placebo modulation of somatosensory and affective components of painLocalized placebo analgesia effects for self-report and fMRI of first-hand painNo evidence for such effects in empathy for painSuggests that somatosensory sharing does not play a critical role in pain empathy

scholarly journals Placebo analgesia does not reduce empathy for naturalistic depictions of others’ pain in a somatosensory specific way

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Hartmann ◽  
Federica Riva ◽  
Markus Rütgen ◽  
Claus Lamm
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Somatosensory System ◽  
Body Part ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Placebo Analgesia ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Hand Pain ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Empathy For Pain ◽  
The Right

AbstractEmpathy for pain involves the affective-motivational and sensory-discriminative pain network. The shared representations account postulates that sharing another’s pain recruits underlying brain functions also engaged during first-hand pain. Critically, causal evidence for this has only been shown for affective pain processing, while the specific contribution of one’s own somatosensory system to empathy remains controversial. Experimental paradigms used in previous studies did not a) direct attention towards a specific body part or b) employed naturalistic depictions of others’ pain, which could explain the absence of somatosensory effects. In this preregistered fMRI study, we thus aimed to test whether a causal manipulation of first-hand pain affects processing of empathy in a somatotopically- matched manner. Forty-five participants underwent a placebo analgesia induction in the right hand and observed pictures of right vs. left hands in pain. We found neither behavioral nor neural evidence for laterality-specific modulation of empathy for pain. However, exploratory analyses revealed a general effect of the placebo on empathy, and higher brain activity in bilateral anterior insula when viewing others’ hands in pain corresponding to one’s own placebo hand. These results refine our knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying empathy for pain by specifying the influence of first-hand pain on empathic responding.

Modulation of Cortical Activity During Different Imitative Behaviors

2003 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 460-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Koski ◽  
Marco Iacoboni ◽  
Marie-Charlotte Dubeau ◽  
Roger P. Woods ◽  
John C. Mazziotta
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Mirror Neuron ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Tightly Coupled ◽  
Posterior Parietal ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Control

Imitation is a basic form of motor learning during development. We have a preference to imitate the actions of others as if looking in a mirror (specular imitation: i.e., when the actor moves the left hand, the imitator moves the right hand) rather than with the anatomically congruent hand (anatomic imitation: i.e., actor and imitator both moving the right hand). We hypothesized that this preference reflects changes in activity in previously described frontoparietal cortical areas involved in directly matching observed and executed actions (mirror neuron areas). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activity in normal volunteers imitating left and right hand movements with their right hand. Bilateral inferior frontal and right posterior parietal cortex were more active during specular imitation compared with anatomic imitation and control motor tasks. Furthermore this same pattern of activity was also observed in the rostral part of the supplementary motor area (SMA-proper) of the right hemisphere. These findings suggest that the degree of involvement of frontoparietal mirror areas in imitation depends on the nature of the imitative behavior, ruling out a linguistic mediation of these areas in imitation. Moreover, activity in the SMA appears to be tightly coupled to frontoparietal mirror areas when subjects copy the actions of others.

scholarly journals Assessment of exposure packaging worker and designing work methods using OCRA index in fertilizer producer company

2018 ◽  
Vol 204 ◽  
pp. 03013
Author(s):  
Ainun Dwi Fridayati ◽  
Wiediartini ◽  
Haidar Natsir Amrullah ◽  
Muhammad Shah ◽  
Urip Mudjiono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Body Part ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Time Calculation ◽  
Break Time ◽  
The Right

Repetitive tasks carried out by packaging workers of fertilizer producer company. These task led to some complains of pain and fatigue on upper body part of the workers based on Nordic Body Maps (NBM) questionnaire. This is because the workers work continuously for eight hours per shift and no recovery period. This study aims to determine risk level of musculoskeletal disorders and break time calculation. In this study, using Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA) index to reduce the risk level. The samples according to expert judgement criteria are three workers (packer clamper, packer tailor and loader). The improvement in this study is designing work methods with break time calculation. This improvement shows the risk reduction on the left hand of the packer clamper from 4,2 to 3,4 and the right hand from 9,9 to 8,2. Risk reduction on the left hand of the packer tailor from 3,44 to 2,2 and the right hand from 5,7 to 2,26 while the risk level on the left hand of loader from 1,4 to 0,87 and in the right hand from 2,17 to 1,18.

Hanoi revisited

2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (549) ◽  
pp. 435-441
Author(s):  
Tamsin Forbes ◽  
Tony Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Simple Extension ◽  
List Type ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Tower Of Hanoi ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
The Right

We consider a simple extension of the familiar Tower of Hanoi puzzle. There are three vertical pegs lined up in a row and n discs. The discs have holes in their centres so that they can be threaded on to the pegs. Initially, all n discs are placed on the left-hand peg in non-increasing order of radius to form a tower, as in Figure 1. The object of the game is to transfer the entire tower to the right-hand peg by moving discs from peg to peg, one at a time according to the rules:(1) only a disc at the top of a tower may be moved;(2) a disc must never be placed on top of a smaller disc.

Editorial Note

1946 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-2
Keyword(s):  
Editorial Note ◽  
Speech Sounds ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Hand Column ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Infant Speech ◽  
The Right

In the article “Infant Speech Sounds and Intelligence” by Orvis C. Irwin and Han Piao Chen, in the December 1945 issue of the Journal, the paragraph which begins at the bottom of the left hand column on page 295 should have been placed immediately below the first paragraph at the top of the right hand column on page 296. To the authors we express our sincere apologies.

scholarly journals Digit Variability in Carotenoid Scores Obtained with the Veggie Meter: A Pilot Study (P02-001-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Velarie Ansu ◽  
Stephanie Dickinson ◽  
Alyce Fly
Keyword(s):  
Indiana University ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Period Data ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Right ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Mean Square Errors

Abstract Objectives To determine which digit and hand have the highest and lowest skin carotenoid scores, to compare inter-and-intra-hand variability of digits, and to determine if results are consistent with another subject. Methods Two subjects’ first(F1), second(F2), third(F3) and fifth(F5) digits on both hands were measured for skin carotenoids with a Veggie Meter, for 3 times on each of 18 days over a 37-day period. Data were subjected to ANOVA in a factorial treatment design to determine main effects for hand (2 levels), digits (4), and days (18) along with interactions. Differences between digits were determined by Tukey's post hoc test. Results There were significant hand x digit, hand x day, digit x day, and hand x digit x day interactions and significant simple main effects for hand, digit, and day (all P < 0.001). Mean square errors were 143.67 and 195.62 for subject A and B, respectively, which were smaller than mean squares for all main effects and interactions. The mean scores ± SD for F1, F2, F3, and F5 digits for the right vs left hands for subject A were F1:357.13 ± 45.97 vs 363.74 ± 46.94, F2:403.17 ± 44.77 vs. 353.20 ± 44.13, F3:406.76 ± 43.10 vs. 357.11 ± 45.13, and F5:374.95 ± 53.00 vs. 377.90 ± 47.38. For subject B, the mean scores ± SD for digits for the right vs left hands were F1:294.72 ± 61.63 vs 280.71 ± 52.48, F2:285.85 ± 66.92 vs 252.67 ± 67.56, F3:268.56 ± 57.03 vs 283.22 ± 45.87, and F5:288.18 ± 34.46 vs 307.54 ± 40.04. The digits on the right hand of both subjects had higher carotenoid scores than those on the left hands, even though subjects had different dominant hands. Subject A had higher skin carotenoid scores on the F3 and F2 digits for the right hand and F5 on the left hand. Subject B had higher skin carotenoid scores on F5 (right) and F1 (left) digits. Conclusions The variability due to hand, digit, and day were all greater than that of the 3 replicates within the digit-day for both volunteers. This indicates that data were not completely random across the readings when remeasuring the same finger. Different fingers displayed higher carotenoid scores for each volunteer. There is a need to conduct a larger study with more subjects and a range of skin tones to determine whether the reliability of measurements among digits of both hands is similar across the population. Funding Sources Indiana University.

The State Policy towards the Homeless in Moldova between the ‘Left Hand’ and the ‘Right Hand’. The Case of Chișinău Shelter

Südosteuropa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-195
Author(s):  
Petru Negură
Keyword(s):  
Homeless People ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
The State ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Binary Approach ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract The Centre for the Homeless in Chișinău embodies on a small scale the recent evolution of state policies towards the homeless in Moldova (a post-Soviet state). This institution applies the binary approach of the state, namely the ‘left hand’ and the ‘right hand’, towards marginalised people. On the one hand, the institution provides accommodation, food, and primary social, legal assistance and medical care. On the other hand, the Shelter personnel impose a series of disciplinary constraints over the users. The Shelter also operates a differentiation of the users according to two categories: the ‘recoverable’ and those deemed ‘irrecoverable’ (persons with severe disabilities, people with addictions). The personnel representing the ‘left hand’ (or ‘soft-line’) regularly negotiate with the employees representing the ‘right hand’ (‘hard-line’) of the institution to promote a milder and a more humanistic approach towards the users. This article relies on multi-method research including descriptive statistical analysis with biographical records of 810 subjects, a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with homeless people (N = 65), people at risk of homelessness (N = 5), professionals (N = 20) and one ethnography of the Shelter.

scholarly journals The Left Hand Doesn’t Know What the Right Hand Is Doing—or Does It?

Cell Reports ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 2809-2810
Author(s):  
Jody C. Culham
Keyword(s):  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
The Right

Nog een suggestie voor het onderwerp van Rembrandts historiestuk te Leiden: De grootmoedigheid van Alexander

1987 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
J. Bruyn
Keyword(s):  
17Th Century ◽  
General Nature ◽  
History Painting ◽  
Emotional Words ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Political Allegory ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Background Wave ◽  
The Right

AbstractOf the nine interpretations proposed for Rembraradt's history Painting of 1626 now at Leiden, none is really convincing. Il seems attractive to think of palamedes Condemned by Agamemncm as the subject because of its political significance in the year after the publication of Voredel's tragecty Palamedcs or Innocence Murdered, which denounced the execution of the Remonstrant leader Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619. γet the scene depicted does not fit any episode frorn the Palamedes story. It appears rather to represent three young men appearing before a crowned figure who makes a pronouncement, probably one of magnanimity or clemency. It is conceivable that the subject was taken from Q. Curtius Rufus's Historiae Alexandri Magni Macedonis, ofwhich several editions, including translations into the vernacular, were published in Holland in the first decades of the 17th century. The episode in question was known to the young Rubens, but does not seem to have been illustrated by any other artist. At the beginning of the seventh book it is described how Alexander summoned before. him in the presence of the army two oj three brothers, who had been close friends of Philotas, a former, friend of his who had been executed for plotting against his life. The youngest brother, Poleinon, had panicked and fled but was caught and brought back at the very moment when Alexander had accused the brothers and the eldest, Amyntas, after having been released from his bonds and given a spear which he held in his left hand, had embarked on his szzccess ful defence. The appearance of Polemon infuriated the soldiers, but when he took the blame on himself and prrifessed his brothers' innocence, they were moved to tears. So too was Alexander who, prompted by their cries, absolved the brothers. This anecdote does at least explain some of the features of Rembrandt's scene. The young man standing on the right with his right hand raised as if swearing an oath would be the eloquent Amyntas with a spear in his left hand. Hidden behind him kneels the second brother, Simias, while Polemon, 'a young man just come to maturity and in the first bloom of his youth', has fallen on one knee in the foreground, underlining his emotional words with his right hand bressed to his heart. Alexander raises his sceptre in token of his absolution and some men in the background wave and shout from a socle they have climbed. Interpreted in this way, the scene coralains not a topical political allegory but, as would seem usual with history paintings, a message of a more general nature: the magnanimity of Alexander as an 'exemblum virtutis'.

scholarly journals Refinements of the Lower Bounds of the Jensen Functional

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Franjić ◽  
Sadia Khalid ◽  
Josip Pečarić
Keyword(s):  
Lower Bounds ◽  
Jensen Inequality ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
Jensen Functional ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Right

The lower bounds of the functional defined as the difference of the right-hand and the left-hand side of the Jensen inequality are studied. Refinements of some previously known results are given by applying results from the theory of majorization. Furthermore, some interesting special cases are considered.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document