"Adult Brain's Capacity for Compassion: Shaping Empathy"

A study led by Prof. Dr. Grit Hein challenges the notion that empathy is a fixed trait, demonstrating that adults can learn to increase or decrease their empathetic responses by observing others. Using computational modeling and fMRI, the study found that changes in empathy were linked to altered brain activity in the anterior insula, a key region for empathy processing. The research underscores the importance of fostering empathetic environments, suggesting that empathy can be cultivated and is crucial for effective teamwork and client interactions.