Children also know empathy as adults

When children see the pain of others, their brain reacts as if the pain is their own.

This common reaction in adults shows that school-age children have the ability to have congenital sympathy.

"What we find is that people tend to naturally resonate with the pain of others and that is an important step towards empathy," said Jean Decety at the University of Chicago, USA.

In the study, the group treated 17 children aged 7 to 12 to see pictures of people showing pain. In the meantime, they were photographed brain.

Each picture shows different accidents, or accidentally like a heavy ball falling into the hand, or intentionally when a person slams the door into someone else's hand.

(Photo: Corbis.com)

When the pain is caused by an accident, the brain area that handles the pain in the child immediately activates. This area of ​​the brain is also in the sympathetic response in adults."This shows that children and adults feel the pain of others , " Decety said.

But when the pain is intentionally caused, areas that handle social function and moral behavior are bright. These areas are also related to risk assessment.

"Obviously children are looking for a reason. When you see someone in pain, you want to know why. That proves that you care about others," Decety explained.

Researchers hope the results will help them better understand brain function in children with anti-social behavior.