Narcissist brain deformity no empathy

Stefan Röpke, a psychiatrist from Germany, said: "One of the main characteristics of pathological narcissists is their distinct lack of empathy. Usually these patients are able to recognize the feelings and thoughts of others, but they rarely show any empathetic response on the surface." The left anterior insula in the brain is believed to be involved in cognitive functions and emotional regulation, and it is also associated with the generation of compassion and empathy. Röpke told Live Science: "We already knew that this area was related to empathy, but this is the first time we have confirmed its connection to the brain's structure."

The researchers found that the degree of empathy a person displays is related to the volume of gray matter in the brain. Röpke said: "These findings suggest that the left anterior insula plays an important role in perceiving and expressing empathy. These results are highly significant because they fully align with our theories about narcissistic personality disorder."