Researchers at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) have made a fascinating discovery, revealing that zebrafish share a fundamental similarity with humans when it comes to experiencing emotional contagion, which involves the mirroring of others’ emotions. The crucial molecule responsible for this phenomenon is oxytocin. Zebrafish exhibit the recognition and response to emotions within their social groups, utilizing brain regions akin to humans, and displaying behavior regulated by oxytocin. Consequently, zebrafish serve as an invaluable model for comprehending emotional contagion, its effects on well-being and society, and its potential applications in diverse fields.
Recent research affirms that fish, similar to humans, possess the ability to mimic emotions. This capability is facilitated by the presence of oxytocin, a vital molecule.
When someone smiles at us, it is natural for us to reciprocate with a similar expression. Likewise, in the presence of someone experiencing anger or stress, we often unknowingly adopt these negative feelings. This inherent tendency to mirror the emotional states of those around us is known as emotional contagion.
This form of rudimentary empathy has been hardwired into our brains over countless generations, serving a clear purpose. Emotional contagion enables the rapid spread of fear in the presence of danger, thereby increasing our chances of survival. Additionally, aligning our emotions with others assists in establishing meaningful social connections.
However, this behavior is not exclusive to humans. New evidence from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) confirms that the mechanisms underlying the synchronization of emotions date back to the most ancient group of vertebrates—fish.
In their recent study, led by Rui Oliveira, the IGC team sought to determine whether zebrafish, like humans and other mammals, require oxytocin to adopt the emotions of their counterparts. Their experiments revealed that when zebrafish, similar to those found in their natural habitat, witness a distressed shoal, they mirror their behavior. Conversely, fish with genetic modifications to their oxytocin or oxytocin receptor genes continue swimming normally even when observing their distressed conspecifics. This demonstrates the necessity of oxytocin in spreading emotions such as fear, especially when a member of the shoal is injured.
One might question whether the fish recognize fear in their conspecifics or merely copy their behavior. “We noticed that these observers approach the distressed shoal even after it returns to swimming normally, whereas the mutated fish prefer to be in proximity to the group that has consistently exhibited a neutral state,” explains Kyriacos Kareklas, a postdoctoral researcher at the IGC and co-first author of the paper. This indicates that zebrafish, through oxytocin, decipher and imitate the emotional state underlying the movements of the neighboring shoal, adopting similar behavior.
It is remarkable that fish approach the distressed shoal, even considering that in nature, this could indicate the presence of a predator. Although this behavior poses risks, “being approached by conspecifics could aid the group in recovering from stress,” clarifies the researcher. These selfless acts are well-documented in mammals, where oxytocin also regulates such behavior.
Yet, oxytocin is not the sole common factor between fish and humans in terms of emotional contagion. “Zebrafish utilize brain regions equivalent to those used by humans to recognize and match emotions,” explains the principal investigator Rui Oliveira.
This makes zebrafish an ideal model for studying this social behavior and its neural mechanisms. Consequently, these findings pave the way for understanding how others’ emotions influence us and shape our well-being and society. The implications extend to various domains, including public health, politics, and marketing.
Reference: “Evolutionarily conserved role of oxytocin in social fear contagion in zebrafish” by Ibukun Akinrinade, Kyriacos Kareklas, Magda C. Teles, Thais K. Reis, Michael Gliksberg, Giovanni Petri, Gil Levkowitz, and Rui F. Oliveira, 23 March 2023, Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.abq5158
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about emotional contagion
What is emotional contagion?
Emotional contagion refers to the phenomenon where individuals unconsciously mirror the emotional states of those around them. When someone experiences certain emotions, such as joy or sadness, others in their vicinity tend to adopt similar emotional states.
How was emotional contagion studied in zebrafish?
Researchers at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência conducted experiments to understand if zebrafish exhibit emotional contagion. They observed that when zebrafish encountered a distressed shoal, they mirrored the behavior of their counterparts. In contrast, zebrafish with genetic alterations affecting oxytocin or its receptors did not display the same empathetic behavior.
What role does oxytocin play in emotional contagion?
Oxytocin, a molecule found in both zebrafish and humans, plays a crucial role in emotional contagion. It enables the recognition and synchronization of emotions between individuals. Fish lacking oxytocin or its receptors did not exhibit emotional contagion, suggesting its necessity in spreading emotions, such as fear.
How are zebrafish similar to humans in emotional contagion?
Zebrafish share commonalities with humans in emotional contagion. They utilize brain regions equivalent to those in humans for recognizing and matching emotions. Furthermore, zebrafish and humans both exhibit emotional contagion regulated by oxytocin, highlighting the evolutionary conservation of this behavior.
What are the implications of this research?
Understanding emotional contagion in zebrafish can provide insights into how emotions and social behavior influence well-being and society. This knowledge has broad applications, ranging from public health and politics to marketing. It opens doors for further research into the impact of emotional contagion and its potential benefits for various fields.
More about emotional contagion
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC): Link to IGC website
- Research Paper: “Evolutionarily conserved role of oxytocin in social fear contagion in zebrafish” published in Science
- Oxytocin: Link to Oxytocin article on Wikipedia
- Emotional Contagion: Link to Emotional Contagion article on Verywell Mind
4 comments
Wow, this is super interesting! Scientists found out that zebrafish and humans share emotions through a molecule called oxytocin. It’s like we’re connected at a deep level, mirroring each other’s feelings. Can’t wait to see how this research helps us understand ourselves and society better!
omg! So fish can feel emotions too? That’s crazy cool! It turns out they use oxytocin, just like us humans. It’s wild to think that this behavior has been around for millions of years. Nature is amazing, isn’t it?
Emotional contagion in zebrafish?! Who would have thought? But it totally makes sense. We’re social beings, and it seems like fish are too. They recognize and mimic the emotions of their shoal mates. It’s like they have their own little underwater society going on. I’m curious to see how this knowledge can be applied in different fields.
Emotional contagion sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie! But it’s real, and it’s happening in fish! This oxytocin molecule is doing some serious mind-melding stuff. Imagine if we could use this knowledge to create better social connections and improve our well-being. The possibilities are mind-blowing!