**3.2 Combining brain imaging and genetic techniques to study the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and empathic neural networks**

Studies have found that oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with empathy [76, 77]. However, the relationship between gene polymorphisms and empathic neural networks is unclear.

Walter et al. were the first to use brain imaging genetic techniques to study the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and empathic neural networks in psychiatric patients and found dysfunctional cognitive empathic neural networks in psychiatric patients carrying certain genotypes. However, there are currently few such studies. Therefore, in the future, brain imaging and genetic techniques can be combined to study the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and empathic neural networks and thus discover the relationship between genes, neural networks and empathy. In addition, Lackner et al. found that dopamine was associated with the level of theory of mind in preschool children, thus promoting cognitive empathy [78]. Dopamine plays an important role in the maturation of the prefrontal lobe of the brain, which is the main brain region involved in cognitive empathy. Therefore, the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of other neurochemicals on empathy, such as dopamine, could be investigated in the future.
