British scientists have found that some people are not limited to the usual sympathy when they see a traumatized person - they actually react physically to his pain. Reported by Reuters.
“We think some people experience a certain physical response when they see someone hurt or writhe in pain,” said Dr. Stuart Darbyshire of the University of Birmingham.
Using a special neuroimaging technology, the team of researchers found that people who say "I feel your pain" actually experience increased activity in the areas of the brain responsible for pain sensations at some point.
The study involved 108 students. They were shown pictures of athletes suffering from pain after being injured or patients receiving various injections.
About a third admitted that they reacted to at least one photo not only emotionally, but also experienced pain in the same place as the injured person in the picture. Darbyshire drew attention to the fact that people who perceive someone else's pain as their own try not to watch horror films and news, so as not to “feel pain” once again.