How a Bad Mood Affects Empathy in Your Brain [greatergood.berkeley.edu

Alicia Doktor 12/5/174:00 AM

Bad moods are no fun; but we all get them from time to time. I sometimes feel down reading the news or forgetting to exercise; others may become moody after a setback at work or a fight with their partner.

Now, a new study published in Psychophysiology suggests that bad moods seem to impact the neural underpinnings of empathy, as well, with important implications for our relationships.

Past research has shown that our neural wiring allows us to experience what another person is feeling—something called emotional resonance, an important element of empathy. This is why we tend to get scared watching horror movies and feel happy when a loved one expresses joy.

[For more on this story by JILL SUTTIE, go to https://greatergood.berkeley.e...mpathy_in_your_brain]

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