This New York Times article by Elyssa Ely, M.D. (March, 2009) is about scientist Alice Flaherty who, after delivering stillborn twins in 1998 became severely depressed and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Instead of becoming consumed in her illness, she uses it to help her patients. Her miracle drug is empathy. The wife of a former patient said this of Dr. Flaherty: “Doctors tend to see patients with an overtone of category. Alice never did. She understood Bill’s depression and his movement problems. But she really understood his needs, appetites, moods, guilts, sadnesses and potential pleasures.”
It is this sort of empathy that is one of Dr. Flaherty's primary research interests; she studies the underlying neural mechanisms associated with empathy. Specifically, she studies the mirror neuron system in the insula, cingulate and inferior frontal parts of the brain, which have been implicated in feelings of empathy (i.e. they become activated when someone witnesses someone else experiencing emotion).
This article is fascinating because it highlights the ways in which someone's personal struggles can be the catalyst behind really interesting scientific discoveries. Research sometimes becomes "MEsearch," and that is okay. Dr. Flaherty has the capacity to empathize with others in part due to her personal experiences, which provides evidence that someone's ability to empathize is most likely due to both genetic and environmental factors.The study of empathy is important because it is a feeling that helps us understand others and form meaningful relationships. By elucidating the neural mechanisms involved, we may be able to help people who struggle socially.
Interested in learning more about mirror neurons? Check out this video:
http://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization.html
I find this article to have a very surprising research finding. I am impressed that this woman has overcome the fact that she has this mental disorder and shows strength. It also portrays the power that the brain has to focus on other neuronal processes instead of being weakened by one flaw.
ReplyDeleteI am very uplifted by what this woman does and the potential in everyone that she is trying to make apparent. Understanding a problem first hand is usually the best way of helping others with the same difficulties and I am pleased to see that it is being transferred into neural mechanisms as well.