👉 The Van research, conducted by Dr. John B. Van der Meer and his team at the University of California, San Diego, focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying social pain and empathy. In their experiments, participants often experience physical discomfort when observing others in distress, a phenomenon known as "vicarious suffering." The researchers use various methods, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to observe brain activity. Their findings suggest that regions of the brain associated with pain processing, such as the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula, are activated when people experience social pain, similar to how they are activated when experiencing physical pain. This research highlights the evolutionary significance of empathy and suggests potential therapeutic targets for conditions involving social isolation and loneliness.
