A Neuroscience Model of COMPASSION

Animal model of maternal care (Numan, 2006) Neuroimaging studies of human parenting

responses Selective Investment Theory (Brown) Polyvagal Theory (Porges) Attachment Theory (Bowlby/Aimsworth) Social psychological literature on prosocial

behavior, empathy, self-efficacy, intrinsic versus extrinsic motives, close relationships

The Motivational Command Center for Parental Behavior

The Medial Preoptic Area of the Hypothalamus

(MPOA)

Functional Requirments (1)

Caregiving system responds to cues for need and distress in others

Responding to cues for need?

Subgenual area of ACC (need)

MPOAAmygdala(threat)

Functional Requirement (2)

Minimizes motivational conflictSuppression of reward-seeking motives

Suppression of reward-seeking?

MPOA VTA

NAcc VentralPallidum(reward-

seeking)

HELP

(Blocks Inhibitory Output to Motor Programs for Helping)

Functional Requirement (3)

Minimizes motivational conflictSuppression of reward-seeking motivesSuppression of avoidance/self-preservation

motivation

Suppressing self-preservation motivation?

MPOAAmygdala

Fight-or-Flight Stress ResponseAvoidance motivation

Functional Requirement (4)

Contingent on Availability of Resources to InvestSensitive to organism’s level of self-efficacy

Sensitive to organism’s level of self-efficacy ?

MPOA VTA

Habenula

(hopelessness)

Functional Requirement (5)

Contingent on Availability of Resources to InvestSensitive to organism’s level of self-efficacySensitive to potential drain on one’s own resources

with mechanisms to desensitize one’s self to another’s needs when output is high or ineffective

Sensitive to drain on resources?

Subgenual area of ACC

MPOA

(Need/DEPRESSION)

Functional Requirement (6)

Sensitive to cues for exploitationTargeted investment to bonded partners

Targeted investment to bonded partners ?

MPOA

Orbital frontal cortex (bimodal cells, socialbehavior)

Functional Requirement (7)

Sensitive to cues for exploitationTargeted investment to bonded partnersResist forming with bad investment targets (e.g.,

stigma)

Resists forming with stigmatized partners?

MPOA

Orbital frontal cortexlateral

(Social aversion)

Neuro-affective Model of Compassion

Relationship Variables self/other overlap, closeness

Situational Variables (e.g., maternal experience, other

forms of interdependence)

Cues for Helping (e.g., baby crying, need)

Caregiving Motivation (e.g., compassion, empathy)

Stress Regulation (e.g.,cardiovascular, hormonal recovery)

Helping Behavior

Individual Differences Variables efficacy, safety attachment style

Extrinisc Motivation(e.g., Self-serving, coerced, obligation)