Comment by e12e | Hacker News Reader

Comment by e12e | Hacker News Reader

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To me it sounds like he probably ended up on the far sensitive side of the spectrum, but well within normal. But, even if he was an adult, he didn't have the mental tools to handle the emotion - I read it as if he suddenly got the intense and open empathy children can have. You don't go to a six year old and describe the suffering of refugees in detail, because it'll give them nightmares. Just having a general idea of someone's suffering can be overwhelming for a child.

I know people that are very emotional, and can get overwhelmed by seeing others suffer -- but people that are absolutely "normal". I wouldn't call it "average" (for adults anyway) however.

I do think he's wrong about not having had a limited form of empathy: literally feeling other peoples pain is empathy. That doesn't mean he didn't care, or loved before - but it absolutely sounds like he had trouble: "understanding and entering into another's feelings" (from WordNet, my emphasis).

It's a fascinating story, like a real-life "The Speed of Dark", by Elizabeth Moon (in part inspired by her son):

http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Dark-Ballantine-Readers-Circle/d...

"I do think he's wrong about not having had a limited form of empathy: literally feeling other peoples pain is empathy. That doesn't mean he didn't care, or loved before - but it absolutely sounds like he had trouble: "understanding and entering into another's feelings"

Sort of.

Pre TMS Robison was unable to distinguish subtle facial expressions. What does this really mean? It means he could not decode other peoples facial expressions and more importantly fire the mirror neurons that allow recognition of emotion. The research mentioned is important in that it shows some linkage to mirror neurons and activation in specific sections of the brain (inferior frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and superior parietal lobe) which is the machinery unavailable to Robison before the experiment.

What does this really mean? Well the post TMS Robison recognises facial expressions and the neuronal machinery now understands how that expression effects others and acts on it. There a relationshipt with mirror neurons and facial reading ability. If you test people for facial recognition who have botox, they loose that ability to decipher emotion much like Robison.

You can view the episode Dr. David Eagleman talks to Robison about this very article on The Human Mind, Ep 5, "Why Do I Need You?" ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDR_0Co4ycU

"Then, my first job was on the crew for a rock-and-roll tour. I worked in music and sound engineering into the early ‘80s."

Remember that exploding guitar Ace Frehley used in KISS? That was all Robisons' doing ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE0RmdkR9s0

I was thinking more about seeing someone skin their knee, and feel an almost physical pang of pain.

Agreed. Everything I read that he said I can relate to. They are feelings that if presented with the same situation I think I would probably feel.

I read this story thinking about how difficult it would be to go from not feeling it, to feeling it. I've spent decades learning and adapting, he had no time. That would certainly be very overwhelming.

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