MDMA and Empathy

Feelings of empathy are powerful and valuable, allowing us to share and understand another’s emotional state. MDMA is considered by many to be an ‘empathogen’ – a substance that increases feelings of empathy and social connection. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown. In my research, I am using optogenetics and pharmacology studies in mice to uncover the neural circuitry underlying MDMA’s empathogenic effects. In this talk, I will first broadly introduce the neuroscience of empathy before presenting my findings.

Ben Rein, PhD is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Robert Malenka’s lab. He is currently studying the neural basis of empathy and how drugs such as MDMA act in the brain to enhance social connection. Dr. Rein’s previous research examined genetic risk factors for autism spectrum disorder and identified key systems in the brain that regulate social interactions. He has authored 17 peer-reviewed scientific papers and received research honors from the NIH, the Society for Neuroscience, and Sigma Xi. Outside of the lab, he also creates educational science videos for an audience of more than 900,000 social media followers. In his videos, he summarizes research papers, teaches neuroscience principles, and debunks viral videos containing misinformation. Dr. Rein’s videos have been featured on Good Morning America, he has been interviewed in Popular Mechanics, and served as an expert consultant for Entertainment Tonight. He has received science communication-related grants from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the Mind Science Foundation, and been recognized with awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Stanford University.

Online via Zoom (link will be sent closer to event date)