Oxytocin receptor and vasopressin receptor 1a genes are respectively associated with emotional and cognitive empathy |
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| Institution: | 1. Psychology Department, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91501, Israel;2. Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom;3. Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA;4. Neurobiology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel;5. Hadassah Medical Organization, Department of Labor and Delivery, Jerusalem, Israel;6. Psychology Department, National University of Singapore, Singapore;1. Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT-CONICET), Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina;2. Section of Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Institutionen för Neurovetenskap BMC, Box 593, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden;3. Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Instituto de Farmacología Experimental Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina;1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Davie Hall (CB #3270), Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC, 101 Manning Drive (CB#7160), Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina Psychiatric Research Center, 3010 Falstaff Road, Raleigh, NC 27610, USA;4. Australian Catholic University, School of Psychology, Locked Bag 4115 Fitzroy MDC Fitzroy Victoria 3065, Melbourne, VIC, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Empathy is the ability to recognize and share in the emotions of others. It can be considered a multifaceted concept with cognitive and emotional aspects. Little is known regarding the underlying neurochemistry of empathy and in the current study we used a neurogenetic approach to explore possible brain neurotransmitter pathways contributing to cognitive and emotional empathy. Both the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and the arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a) genes contribute to social cognition in both animals and humans and hence are prominent candidates for contributing to empathy. The following research examined the associations between polymorphisms in these two genes and individual differences in emotional and cognitive empathy in a sample of 367 young adults. Intriguingly, we found that emotional empathy was associated solely with OXTR, whereas cognitive empathy was associated solely with AVPR1a. Moreover, no interaction was observed between the two genes and measures of empathy. The current findings contribute to our understanding of the distinct neurogenetic pathways involved in cognitive and emotional empathy and underscore the pervasive role of both oxytocin and vasopressin in modulating human emotions. |
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