Unraveling the Neurobiology of Empathy and Compassion: Implications for Treatments for Brain Disorders and Human Well-Being: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief
2025
Empathy and compassion shape how people build relationships, care for one another, and respond to suffering. Yet, the biological mechanisms that underlie these traits and their influence on brain health are not fully understood.
The National Academies Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, in collaboration with the Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, convened a two-day virtual workshop in May 2025 to explore the underlying neurobiology of empathy and compassion; consider the influence of social interactions, psychological states, and the environment; and explore how this knowledge may be harnessed to treat brain disorders and foster human well-being. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief outlines presentations and discussions that occurred during the workshop, including perspectives from individuals with lived experience, neuroscientists, and health care professionals, including psychologists.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Unraveling the Neurobiology of Empathy and Compassion: Implications for Treatments for Brain Disorders and Human Well-Being: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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