Not Imagination, People with High Empathy Can Feel Real Pain

Have you ever been feel in pain at the sight of such other person bloody or broken bones are clearly visible? If yes then the pain that you feel is not just imagination but your body is in pain.

Now a group of researchers from Australia managed to prove the existence of the physical changes that occur when a person is literally come to feel the suffering of others.

Psychological experts from Monash University, Dr. Melita Giummarra, said the condition occurs in 20-30 percent of the population with extreme empathy. In a study presented at the World Congress of Pain to 15 people in Argentina, Giummara and colleagues studied 20 women reported that almost half could feel the pain of others.

"People who have this condition will usually experience pain in the same part of the body to the injury suffered by others," said Giummarra as quoted by ABC Australia on Saturday (12/20/2014).

Studies conducted by the respondents are shown in parts such as head injuries, ankles, knees, and legs while paired means of an electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure heart rate. The results in those who claim to be able to feel pain of others heartbeat experienced a sharp increase in long, while other women their heart rate increased only briefly.

The respondents with high empathy claimed they experienced pain 'dull' when viewing the film. Giummarra said reactions shown by the heart of people with extreme empathy are the same as those who were injured.

Researchers say of the evidence shown in the study, there is the possibility of the parasympathetic nervous system of people with extreme empathy is different from ordinary people.
Nerve parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for stimulating the body at the sight of something unpleasant or dangerous.

"When we see people in pain body will be stimulated and we usually can feel a kind of sensation that is not painful. The sensation is only a bit because we have inhibitory stimuli in the nervous system," said Giummarra.

"People who can feel the pain of others may not have this resistor. Stimuli in his body will remain which might lead to the perception of pain," he concluded.