Functional Neural Plasticity and As- sociated Changes in Positive Affect After Compassion Training. Cerebral Cortex. 23(7), 1552-1561. Klimecki, O.M., Leiberg, S., Lamm, C., Singer, T. (2013).

This article presents a study on the neural mechanisms and subjective responses of participants before and after receiving training in compassion. Training in compassion enables people to move beyond distress and self focus into a response that encompasses empathy and a commitment to assist, coupled with the wisdom that accepts our own limitations and those of the situation. The studies suggest that the deliberate cultivation of compassion offers a new coping strategy that fosters positive affect even when confronted with the distress of others.