Abstract

Preston and Hofelich’s (2012) conceptualization of self–other overlap includes both neural and subjective levels, but neural overlap is given a central and necessary role in their model. The model’s broad scope includes many types of empathy phenomena and points to stable patterns and relationships among them. A self–other overlap idea that can cover such a range of phenomena makes gains in explanatory cohesiveness. This may come at the expense of specificity and predictive power in investigating particular neural systems implicated in empathy. The neural overlap concept is broadly useful, but putting it to work in neuroimaging experiments reveals operational ambiguities. Investigating the details of specific systems might suggest further refinements in how we identify meaningful neural self–other overlap