Primed by Beauty or Not? How Facial Attractiveness Influences Neural and Behavioral Empathy for Pain

Empathy for pain is a multifaceted process influenced by both affective and cognitive factors. The present study investigated whether priming faces of varying physical attractiveness modulates early empathic responses to pain, as measured by event-related potentials (ERPs). To explore these dynamics, the ‘sandwich-masked faces’ paradigm was used. Fifty-three healthy adults viewed photographs of faces rated as highly attractive or unattractive (prime), followed by target images depicting either painful or non-painful situations. Results revealed that attractive facial primes, when paired with painful target stimuli, elicited enhanced N2 amplitudes, indicative of affective conflict during early empathic processing. Additionally, P3 amplitude was higher for painful stimuli following unattractive primes, suggesting facilitated categorization and increased cognitive engagement. Behavioral data showed that pain intensity ratings were generally higher for unattractive models, especially when prime and target valence were congruent. These findings demonstrate that facial attractiveness and affective priming modulate both early and late stages of neural empathic processing, highlighting the complex role of unconscious affective cues in empathy for pain.