ABSTRACT

This chapter explores the relationship between compassion and the autonomic nervous system. It begins by wrestling with fundamental questions about the definition of compassion and the functions of the autonomic nervous system. The chapter proposes that compassion is associated with activity in the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, namely the vagus nerve. It reviews supporting evidence for this claim grounded in theoretical work on the vagus nerve's role in social engagement and caretaking as well as empirical findings that demonstrate its association with prosociality, social connection, and compassion. The chapter also explores whether feeling compassion may activate a larger network of integrated biological systems (autonomic, neural, and hormonal). It considers the benefits offered by applying psychophysiological methods to the study of compassion and future directions for this work. Psychophysiology is uniquely positioned to offer important insights into compassion.