Behavioral and neural effects of right temporoparietal junction itbs during empathy processing in women
Scientific Reports, Published online: 22 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-66357-9 Behavioral and neural effects of right temporoparietal junction itbs during empathy processing in women
The study investigated the impact of right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) on empathy processing in women. Previous research on the rTPJ's role in empathy has been inconsistent, and earlier studies faced methodological issues, such as inadequate empathy assessment tasks and lack of neuroimaging measures.
The study aimed to determine the rTPJ's role in empathy. 16 female participants underwent open-label iTBS targeting the rTPJ with neuronavigation. Results showed that iTBS led to significant changes in reaction time for both cognitive and affective aspects of empathy, while accuracy and questionnaire scores remained unchanged. iTBS over the rTPJ increased functional connectivity between the right anterior insula and left TPJ, while reducing connectivity between the left lateral temporal cortex and anterior medial prefrontal cortex.
However, the study did not conclusively establish the rTPJ's role in empathy. Future research should differentiate theory of mind (ToM) from empathy and consider stimulating rTPJ subregions.
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