Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Resting state neural activity has been shown to impact trait empathy, but the impact of these activation patterns on empathy processes associated with psychopathology is unclear. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, blood-oxygenation levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are measured during a resting-state and while the participants are completing emotion-recognition tasks. After collecting resting state data, we will administer a Theory of Mind task, the Frith-Happé Animations Test, in which participants will classify interactions between two animated triangles as mental, physical, or random. Correctly identified mental interactions will be followed by asking which emotion best fits each triangle. Next, we will administer an abbreviated form of EU Empathy Stimuli. Participants will view videos depicting emotionally salient social interactions and identify the emotions present in each video. After both tasks, participants will complete self-report scales to assess internalizing symptoms. Resting state activity will be compared to both the participants’ accuracy on each task and internalizing symptoms indicated in the self-report. Data collection is expected to be completed in the upcoming weeks, subsequently allowing the completion of analysis. We hypothesize elevated patterns of resting state activation will predict better emotion-recognition task performance, which in turn will predict internalizing symptoms for some individuals. For these individuals, heightened awareness of the emotional states of others may be a form of hypervigilance and be associated with internalizing problems such as anxiety. Analysis of our data will provide greater insight into the predictive nature of heightened baseline neural activity upon both empathic processing and internalizing symptomatology.
Recommended Citation
Mesi, Maxwell, "291-Resting State Neural Activity, Empathy, and their Association with Internalizing Symptomatology" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 83.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/83
291-Resting State Neural Activity, Empathy, and their Association with Internalizing Symptomatology
Resting state neural activity has been shown to impact trait empathy, but the impact of these activation patterns on empathy processes associated with psychopathology is unclear. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, blood-oxygenation levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are measured during a resting-state and while the participants are completing emotion-recognition tasks. After collecting resting state data, we will administer a Theory of Mind task, the Frith-Happé Animations Test, in which participants will classify interactions between two animated triangles as mental, physical, or random. Correctly identified mental interactions will be followed by asking which emotion best fits each triangle. Next, we will administer an abbreviated form of EU Empathy Stimuli. Participants will view videos depicting emotionally salient social interactions and identify the emotions present in each video. After both tasks, participants will complete self-report scales to assess internalizing symptoms. Resting state activity will be compared to both the participants’ accuracy on each task and internalizing symptoms indicated in the self-report. Data collection is expected to be completed in the upcoming weeks, subsequently allowing the completion of analysis. We hypothesize elevated patterns of resting state activation will predict better emotion-recognition task performance, which in turn will predict internalizing symptoms for some individuals. For these individuals, heightened awareness of the emotional states of others may be a form of hypervigilance and be associated with internalizing problems such as anxiety. Analysis of our data will provide greater insight into the predictive nature of heightened baseline neural activity upon both empathic processing and internalizing symptomatology.