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Review
. 2022 Mar:134:104509.
doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.032. Epub 2021 Dec 27.

Contagious depression: Automatic mimicry and the mirror neuron system - A review

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Review

Contagious depression: Automatic mimicry and the mirror neuron system - A review

Lisiê Valéria Paz et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Contagious depression is a theory proposing that depression can be induced or triggered by our social environment. This theory is based on emotional contagion, the idea that affective states can be transferred during social interaction, since humans can use emotional contagion to communicate feelings and emotions in conscious and unconscious ways. This review presents behavioral, physiological, and neuroanatomical aspects of two essential contagious depression mechanisms, automatic mimicry and the mirror neuron system.

Keywords: Contagious depression; Emotional contagion; Empathy; Mimicry; Mirror neuron system.

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