Empathy and prosocial behavior powered by orexin-driven theta oscillations
Summary
Empathy measured through observational fear in rodents has been associated with increased theta oscillations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, upstream circuit mechanisms modulating these oscillations and the extent of the oscillations' role in empathy-related behaviors remain elusive. We found that in mice, ACC theta oscillations are involved in empathy-driven prosocial allogrooming. Moreover, orexinergic neurons are selectively activated in the ACC during observational fea
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# Empathy and prosocial behavior powered by orexin-driven theta oscillations
*Published: 2026 Feb 19*
Empathy measured through observational fear in rodents has been associated with
increased theta oscillations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However,
upstream circuit mechanisms modulating these oscillations and the extent of the
oscillations' role in empathy-related behaviors remain elusive. We found that in
mice, ACC theta oscillations are involved in empathy-driven prosocial
allogrooming. Moreover, orexinergic neurons are selectively activated in the ACC
during observational fear and prosocial allogrooming, but only when the animals
had prior fear experience. Real-time, gaze-dependent optogenetic inhibition of
lateral hypothalamic orexinergic inputs to ACC suppressed theta power and
reduced both behaviors. These findings show that hypothalamic orexinergic inputs
drive ACC theta oscillations to modulate observational fear and prosocial
behaviors, providing circuit-level insight into how affective empathy translates
into prosocial action.
DOI: 10.1126/science.aea7140