Empathy and prosocial behavior powered by orexin-driven theta oscillations

• Science, Volume 391, Issue 6787, Page 800-806, February 2026.

Article Summaries:

• A new study published in Science (Vol. 391, Issue 6787) demonstrates that orexin, a neuropeptide known for regulating wakefulness, drives theta‑frequency brain oscillations that underlie empathy and prosocial actions. Using electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic manipulation in rodents, researchers showed that activating orexin neurons enhanced theta power in the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala, regions linked to social cognition. When orexin signaling was blocked, animals displayed reduced prosocial behaviors and impaired social recognition. The findings suggest that orexin‑mediated theta rhythms are a key neural mechanism for empathy, offering potential targets for treating social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Sources:

• https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aea7140?af=R