'Mirror Touch' and the Neural Basis of Empathy (Response to: Society, Social Behaviour and the Neurosciences)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Psychology
Abstract
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Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jamie Ward (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Banissy M.J.
(2013)
Mechanisms of self-other representations and vicarious experiences of touch in mirror-touch synesthesia
in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Banissy MJ
(2009)
Prevalence, characteristics and a neurocognitive model of mirror-touch synaesthesia.
in Experimental brain research
Banissy MJ
(2013)
Mechanisms of self-other representations and vicarious experiences of touch in mirror-touch synesthesia.
in Frontiers in human neuroscience
Goller AI
(2013)
Mirror-touch synaesthesia in the phantom limbs of amputees.
in Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior
Holle H
(2012)
Neural basis of contagious itch and why some people are more prone to it.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Holle H
(2013)
Functional and structural brain differences associated with mirror-touch synaesthesia.
in NeuroImage
Holle H
(2011)
Proprioceptive drift without illusions of ownership for rotated hands in the "rubber hand illusion" paradigm.
in Cognitive neuroscience
Holle H
(2011)
"That's not a real body": identifying stimulus qualities that modulate synaesthetic experiences of touch.
in Consciousness and cognition
J. Ward (Author)
(2009)
Observing touch : fMRI explorations of body perspective and ownership
Jamie Ward (Author)
(2011)
Activity within the primary somatosensory cortex from the observation of touch
| Description | We have established that a small number of the population (1-2%) experience tactile sensations on their body when watching other people being touched. This is linked to differences in social cognition (e.g. ability to identify facial expressions). We show that the effect is related to observing touch to a human (as opposed to dummies or objects) and is not simply spatial orienting to a body part (we don't get the same results when a light is flashed instead of touch). We show, for the first time, that this is linked to structural changes in the brain (notably, secondary somatosensory cortex) in addition to showing that activity in a similar region correlates with the subjective intensity of felt touch. The research was extended in two novel directions. We show that observing someone scratching (which can be construed as a special form of self-directed touch) not only induces itchiness in the observer but also activates the brain differently to other forms of touch (tapping). Finally, we show that 'mirror touch' can be acquired following amputation and shows somewhat different characteristics to that found in normal-bodied individuals (namely, a lack of somatotopic mapping between observed and felt touch). |
| Exploitation Route | We are continuing to work with the film-maker Daria Martin who is exploring mirror-touch and empathy as part of 'Leverhulme Trust' Network Grant. This grant was inspired by our research and aims to bridge between science and humanities (in this case, film studies). Both have parallel traditions of 'embodied perception' that have largely developed independently. We will also extend our research in this area by considering more clinical angles to our research. This will be achieved via grant applications to the MRC. This stems from our finding that amputees appear to be able to acquire something akin to mirror touch. We are keen to explore, in particular, how observations of pain in other people may trigger (or be affected by) chronic pain conditions in the perceiver. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Healthcare,Retail,Transport,Other |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/psychology/showcase/researchprojects/jamieward |
| Description | Ward's research on mirror-touch synaesthesia (feelings of touch or pain when observing it in other people) was the basis of a programme of arts-based public engagement. This has served to establishing the scientific legitimacy of the phenomenon which in turn has led to greater self-organization among people with mirror-touch and coverage in international media, indicating a change in public perceptions. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | "That's not a real body" : identifying stimulus qualities that modulate synaesthetic experiences of touch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poster Presentation at UK Synaesthesia Association (a mixed audience of public and academics) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| URL | http://unfccc.int/meetings/durban_nov_2011/items/6529.php |
| Description | A mirror system for touch? : evidence from synaesthesia and the normal population |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Speaker at Workshop on Body Representation (Parma, Italy) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Feeling touch from seeing touch in developmental synaesthesia : a hyperactive tactile mirror system? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation to UK Synaesthesia Association (a mixed audience of the general public and academics) Section not completed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Synaesthesia as a disturbance of memory and perception |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar Series with Monthly Invited Experts from Overseas |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Your body is my body |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Part of Royal Holloway (London) Psychology Seminar Series |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Your body is my body : feeling touch from observed touch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Speaker at Durham University Seminar Series |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |