01:48 min
CLEAR ALL
British scientists are looking for people with a rare condition called mirror-touch synesthesia, as it could help them to better understand empathy. Here's how - and why it's important.
Dr. Joel Salinas is a neurologist who possesses a rare neurological trait himself: he has mirror touch synesthesia, a rare form of the perceptual condition that allows him to experience the same physical sensations and feelings as the people around him.
For Carolyn Hart, empathy is more than a feeling—it's physical. The professional masseuse has a rare neurological condition called mirror-touch synesthesia. When Hart sees another person in pain, she physically feels that pain too.