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Link found between brain activity, empathy and borderline personality disorder

Recent data support the heterogeneity of borderline personality disorder and suggest that reduced brain activity may affect empathic processing among individuals with the disorder.

To assess associations between brain activity and empathy among individuals with borderline personality disorder, Brian W. Haas, PhD, and Joshua Miller, PhD, of the University of Georgia, conducted functional MRI while study participants completed an empathetic processing task in which they matched the emotion of faces to a situation’s context. Researchers included geometric shapes in place of emotional faces as a control. Participants (n = 82) completed the Five Factor Borderline Inventory to determine the severity of various traits associated with borderline personality disorder.

Brian Haas

“Our results showed that people with [borderline personality disorder] traits had reduced activity in brain regions that support empathy,” Haas said in a press release. “This reduced activation may suggest that people with more [borderline personality disorder] traits have a more difficult time understanding and/or predicting how others feel, at least compared to individuals with fewer [borderline personality disorder] traits.”

Higher borderline personality disorder trait scores were associated with hypoactivity in two brain regions associated with cognitive empathy: the superior temporal sulcus and the temporoparietal junction.

“We found that for those with more [borderline personality disorder] traits, these empathetic processes aren’t as easily activated,” Miller said in the press release. “Borderline personality disorder is considered one of the most severe and troubling personality disorders, [and] can make it difficult to have successful friendships and romantic relationships. These findings could help explain why that is.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.