Journal
NEUROIMAGE
Volume 60, Issue 1, Pages 105-116Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.008
Keywords
Expert musicians; Electroencephalography (EEG); Alpha rhythms; Standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic source tomography (sLORETA); Empathy
Funding
- EU [FP6-2004 NEST-PATH-028570]
- Association Fatebenefratelli for Research (AFaR)
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Playing music in ensemble represents a unique human condition/performance where musicians should rely on empathic relationships. Recent theories attribute to frontal Brodmann areas (BAs) 44/45 and 10/11 a neural basis for emotional and cognitive empathy. We hypothesized that activity of these structures reflects empathy trait in professional musicians playing in ensemble. Simultaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythms (8-12 Hz) were recorded in three saxophone quartets during music performance in ensemble (EXECUTION), video observation of their own performance (OBSERVATION), a control task (CONTROL), and resting state (RESTING). EEG source estimation was performed. Results showed that the higher the empathy quotient test score, the higher the alpha desynchronization in right BA 44/45 during the OBSERVATION referenced to RESTING condition. Empathy trait score and alpha desynchronization were not correlated in other control areas or in EXECUTION/CONTROL conditions. These results suggest that alpha rhythms in BA 44/45 reflect emotional empathy in musicians observing own performance. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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