Psychology
The Neural Basis of Cognitive Empathy and Affective Empathy
Quick fact
Cognitive empathy and affective empathy involve distinct neural networks: one focuses on understanding others' thoughts (mentalizing, e.g., temporoparietal junction), while the other resonates with their feelings (emotional sharing, e.g., anterior insula).
Why this is interesting
You flinch when you see someone hit their thumb with a hammer, and you can also imagine exactly why they are annoyed. But are these the same brain process?