HAVE you ever wondered why reading a good book can be almost as moving as events in real life? It may be because you use the same brain region to make sense of both.
Previous studies indicated that the anterior insula and adjacent frontal operculum (brain regions known collectively as the IFO) are activated both when we observe someone experiencing an emotion such as disgust, delight or pain, and when we experience it ourselves. This is believed to be what allows us to empathise with others and understand their intentions. But what if the emotion is merely imagined, such as…
