{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Atypical emotion sharing in individuals with mirror sensory synaesthesia.
{Author}: Santiesteban I;Hales C;Bowling NC;Ward J;Banissy MJ;
{Journal}: Cogn Neuropsychol
{Volume}: 40
{Issue}: 7
{Year}: 2023 Oct-Dec 16
{Factor}: 3.75
{DOI}: 10.1080/02643294.2024.2353581
{Abstract}: Being able to empathise with others is a crucial ability in everyday life. However, this does not usually entail feeling the pain of others in our own bodies. For individuals with mirror-sensory synaesthesia (MSS), however, this form of empathic embodiment is a common feature. Our study investigates the empathic ability of adults who experience MSS using a video-based empathy task. We found that MSS participants did not differ from controls on emotion identification and affective empathy; however, they showed higher affect sharing (degree to which their affect matches what they attribute to others) than controls. This finding indicates difficulties with self-other distinction, which our data shows results in fewer signs of prosocial behaviour. Our findings are in line with the self-other control theory of MSS and highlight how the use of appropriate empathy measures can contribute to our understanding of this important socio-affective ability, both in typical and atypical populations.