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Mirror-Touch Synaesthesia Is Not Associated with Heightened Empathy, and Can Occur with Autism.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2016 Aug 04; Vol. 11 (8), pp. e0160543. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Aug 04 (Print Publication: 2016). - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Research has linked Mirror-Touch (MT) synaesthesia with enhanced empathy. We test the largest sample of MT synaesthetes to date to examine two claims that have been previously made: that MT synaesthetes (1) have superior empathy; and (2) only ever experience their MT synaesthesia in response to viewing a person being touched. Given that autism has been suggested to involve deficits in cognitive empathy, we also test two predictions: that MT synaesthetes should (3) be less likely than general population individuals without MT synaesthesia to have an autism spectrum condition (ASC), if MT is characterized by superior empathy; and (4) have fewer autistic traits. We selected three groups: a pure MT synaesthesia group (N = 46), a pure grapheme-colour (GC) synaesthesia group (N = 36), and a typical control group without synaesthesia (N = 46). Participants took three measures of empathy and one measure of autistic traits. MT synaesthetes did not show enhanced empathy. In addition, 30% of all MT synaesthetes recruited into this study (N = 135) reported also having ASC, and MT synaesthetes showed higher autistic trait scores than controls. Finally, some MT experiences were reported in response to viewing objects being touched. Our findings dispute the views that MT synaesthesia is linked with enhanced empathy, is less likely to occur with ASC or elevated autistic traits, and is specific to seeing a person being touched.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Autistic Disorder complications
Case-Control Studies
Emotions
Female
Humans
Internet
Male
Middle Aged
Perceptual Disorders complications
Photic Stimulation
Reaction Time
Self Report
Social Skills
Surveys and Questionnaires
Synesthesia
Young Adult
Autistic Disorder diagnosis
Empathy
Perceptual Disorders diagnosis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27490947
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160543