1. Mirroring, Empathy, and Group Processes
A Perspective from Neuroscience
Associate Professor Ross Cunnington
Queensland Brain Institute and School of Psychology
University of Queensland

2. Historical perspective
Imitation and Simulation
We have a natural tendency to imitate the actions of others
Charles Darwin (1872)
Spectators at leaping matches move their own feet as if imitating the competitors
Man has a “strong tendency to imitation, independently of the conscious will”
Darwin, 1872, The expression of the emotions in man and animals

4. Simulation Theory Understanding others through simulation
We understand others’ mental and emotional states and intentions by
simulating their state in our own mind.
Simulation and Theory Theory
Goldman Simulating Minds

5. Mirror Neurons Observation and Execution of Action
Prof Rizzolatti
University of Parma, Italy
Mirror Neurons fire when a monkey performs an action, and when it observes the same action being performed
“Mirrors” the state of the other in the monkey’s own brain
Gallese et al, Brain, 1996

6. Mirror Mechanisms Understanding others by simulation or “mirroring”
Mirror system:
Automatically maps observed actions to the motor system
“We understand actions when we map the visual representation of the observed action onto our motor representation of the same action” Rizzolatti et al, Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2001
Plans for Action
Motor System
Visual System
Observed Action

7. Empathy in the Brain
Prof Tania Singer
Max Planck Institute, Leipzig
When we observe emotions of others, some of their brain state is mirrored or simulated in our own brain.

8. Neural Empathy – Pain Affective / Emotional Areas
The “unpleasantness” of pain
active during BOTH actual pain and observed pain
Sensory Areas : Sensation of Pain
NOT active during observed pain
Singer et al, Science, 2004

9. Empathy and Group Association
We form associations with people we perceive as like-us
in-group vs. out-group (Social Identity Theory)
Group Behaviour
In-group: favouritism, conformity, helping
Out-group: prejudice, discrimination, conflict
Neural empathy and mirroring depends on Group Association
Stronger for In-Group members than Out-Group members

10. “In-Group” versus “Out-Group” Empathy
Fans of rival football teams
Observed Pain to In-Group and Out-Group members
On each trial, could decide:
Help – Take half pain
Watch a football video
Watch the other receive pain
More “mirroring” empathy brain activity for In-Group
Correlated with helping behaviour
Hein et al, Neuron, 2010

11. “In-Group” versus “Out-Group” Empathy
Replicated many times
Greater mirroring for
Fair versus unfair players
“Minimal” groups
Singer et al, Nature, 2006
Molenberghs et al, Human Brain Mapping, 2013

12. Multi-Person Social Neuroscience
Very recent research field
Practical problems for brain imaging
Can measure synchrony or shared brain activity between interacting partners
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Controlled by the brain
Arousal Level = Continuum from - asleep / bored to - engaged / focussed to - stressed / fearful / anxious

13. Between-Person Synchrony – Connectivity
Methods used for computing Brain Connectivity can be used to assess inter-person connectivity and group processes
Graph Theory