RESUMO
It has been reported that cannabis consumption affects the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a structure with a central role in mediating the empathic response. In this study, we compared psychometric scores of empathy subscales, between a group of regular cannabis users (85, users) and a group of non-consumers (51, controls). We found that users have a greater Emotional Comprehension, a cognitive empathy trait involving the understanding of the "other" emotional state. Resting state functional MRI in a smaller sample (users = 46, controls = 34) allowed to identify greater functional connectivity (FC) of the ACC with the left somatomotor cortex (SMC), in users when compared to controls. These differences were also evident within the empathy core network, where users showed greater within network FC. The greater FC showed by the users is associated with emotional representational areas and empathy-related regions. In addition, the differences in psychometric scores suggest that users have more empathic comprehension. These findings suggest a potential association between cannabis use, a greater comprehension of the other's affective state and the functional brain organization of the users. However, further research is needed to explore such association, since many other factors may be at play.
Assuntos
Cannabis , Empatia , Giro do Cíngulo/diagnóstico por imagem , Emoções , Encéfalo , Agonistas de Receptores de CanabinoidesRESUMO
RESUMOA compreensão emocional é uma componente-chave da competência emocional, que se tem vindo a constatar ser importante para um melhor entendimento do desenvolvimento infantil. Este artigo faz uma revisão teórica desse construto, situando-o nos estudos sobre inteligência emocional e clarificando a sua definição. Apresentam-se, igualmente, os diferentes instrumentos que existem para a sua avaliação assim como os estudos que trazem evidências sobre o seu desenvolvimento. Concluiu-se que está demonstrada a existência de importantes mudanças na compreensão emocional da criança entre os 18 meses e os 12 anos. No entanto, é ainda necessário: a) reduzir a inconsistência conceptual presente nesse construto; b) determinar o que prediz; c) determinar se o seu ensino tem um efeito desejável no comportamento dos indivíduos.
ABSTRACTEmotional understanding is a key component of emotional competence, which has been singled out to be important for a better comprehension of child development. This paper is a theoretical review of this construct, placing it in the studies of emotional intelligence and clarifying its definition. It also presents the different existing tools towards its assessment as well as the array of studies providing evidence on its development. This theoretical research paper accounts for significantchanges inemotional understandingof childrenaged between 18 monthsand 12 years. Nonetheless, it is still necessary to: a) reduce theconceptualinconsistencyevidenced in thisconstruct; b) determine what it predicts; c) give an account whether its teachinghas adesirable impact on subjects' behaviour.