Economist Ernst Fehr and neuroscientist Tania Singer are convinced that humans are by nature public-spirited as well and instinctively pursue the public good. In their work in the emerging interdisciplinary research field of “neuroeconomics” at the University of Zurich, they use neuroscientific findings to inform economic theory.

The ability to empathize with other people appears to be closely linked to the ability to interpret one’s own feelings. Neuroscientists in Zurich have examined empathy in subjects who are not able to interpret their own feelings.

Tania Singer studied psychology at Philipps-University Marburg and at TU Berlin. Since 2010, she has been Professor at the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Science in Leipzig, Germany, studying the foundations of human social behaviour.

Tania Singer measures the brain activity of subjects playing economic games. As Professor in the Faculty of Economics, the neuroscientist studies the foundations of human economic behavior.

Neuroscientist Tania Singer studies human social behavior. Her goal is to develop a means of improving our ability to empathize with other people.

Neuroscientist Tania Singer aims to determine how empathy can be increased through training.

Our brains are hardwired for social interaction. University of Zurich scientist Tania Singer aims to find out how we can improve our ability to empathize through training.

Scientists have shown that the tendency to gloat is deeply rooted in the neural structure of our brains. And, apparently, men gloat more than women do.

Scientists have shown that the brain areas controlling the emotional reaction to one’s own pain also become active when one see one’s partner in pain.