EEG mu rhythms and trait empathy during observation of a romantic partner's pain with and without consoling touch
- 1Tarleton State University
Abstract
Introduction: Observation of a partner in pain elicits empathy-related cortical responses and social support can modulate pain. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate empathy and the cortical response during observation of a romantic partner in pain with and without consoling touch. Methods: A total of 40 participants (20 couples) completed validated measures of handedness, pain and empathy. Each member of the couple was randomly assigned to be either the recipient of cold pressor pain or the consoling partner undergoing EEG. EEG activity was recorded from the consoling partner during baseline and pain conditions (with and without consoling touch) to investigate how observation of a partner in pain could alter mu rhythms. Results: Observing a romantic partner in pain significantly enhanced mu at electrodes C4 and Cz, yet addition of consoling touch did not significantly change mu rhythms. Personal Distress was positively associated with mu rhythm enhancement at electrode C4 during pain without consoling touch (r = .576, p = .008). Conclusion: Viewing a romantic partner in pain significantly increased mu rhythms, that was not further changed by offering consoling touch. The association between increases in mu rhythms and Personal Distress in the current study suggests that self-oriented distress may be especially relevant to sensorimotor cortex responses when witnessing a partner in pain, particularly when consoling touch is not possible. Keywords: pain; empathy, EEG, mu rhythms, cold pressor
Related
- Polar Seabed Observation Systems reveal winter diel rhythms and environmental drivers of euphausiids in Great Wall Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
- A neurofunctional signature of romantic love predicts rewards on social media, effects of oxytocin and drug-cue reactivity
- Beyond Anxiety and Avoidance: A Dynamic Feedback-Regulation Framework for Adult Romantic Attachment
- Neural synchrony is not unique to romantic bonds
- The Paradox of Modern Love: Why Romantic Signals Decline in Developed Societies
BibTeX
@misc{love2026rhythms,
title = {{EEG mu rhythms and trait empathy during observation of a romantic partner's pain with and without consoling touch}},
author = {S. Love and L. Rowden and B. Ballenger and A. Harris Bozer},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.26.754722},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.26.754722v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - EEG mu rhythms and trait empathy during observation of a romantic partner's pain with and without consoling touch
AU - S. Love
AU - L. Rowden
AU - B. Ballenger
AU - A. Harris Bozer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/26
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.26.754722
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.26.754722v1
AB - Introduction: Observation of a partner in pain elicits empathy-related cortical responses and social support can modulate pain. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate empathy and the cortical response during observation of a romantic partner in pain with and without consoling touch. Methods: A total of 40 participants (20 couples) completed validated measures of handedness, pain and empathy. Each member of the couple was randomly assigned to be either the recipient of cold pressor pain or the consoling partner undergoing EEG. EEG activity was recorded from the consoling partner during baseline and pain conditions (with and without consoling touch) to investigate how observation of a partner in pain could alter mu rhythms. Results: Observing a romantic partner in pain significantly enhanced mu at electrodes C4 and Cz, yet addition of consoling touch did not significantly change mu rhythms. Personal Distress was positively associated with mu rhythm enhancement at electrode C4 during pain without consoling touch (r = .576, p = .008). Conclusion: Viewing a romantic partner in pain significantly increased mu rhythms, that was not further changed by offering consoling touch. The association between increases in mu rhythms and Personal Distress in the current study suggests that self-oriented distress may be especially relevant to sensorimotor cortex responses when witnessing a partner in pain, particularly when consoling touch is not possible. Keywords: pain; empathy, EEG, mu rhythms, cold pressor
ER -