Emotional contagion, a fundamental aspect of empathy, is an automatic and unconscious process in which individuals mimic and synchronize with the emotions of others. Extensively studied in rodents, this phenomenon is mediated through a range of sensory pathways, each contributing distinct insights. The olfactory pathway, marked by two types of pheromones modulated by oxytocin, plays a crucial role in transmitting emotional states. The auditory pathway, involving both squeaks and specific ultrasonic vocalizations, correlates with various emotional states and is essential for expression and communication in rodents. The visual pathway, though less relied upon, encompasses observational motions and facial expressions. The tactile pathway, a more recent focus, underscores the significance of physical interactions such as allogrooming and socio-affective touch in modulating emotional states. This comprehensive review not only highlights plausible neural mechanisms but also poses key questions for future research. It underscores the complexity of multimodal integration in emotional contagion, offering valuable insights for human psychology, neuroscience, animal welfare, and the burgeoning field of animal-human-AI interactions, thereby contributing to the development of a more empathetic intelligent future.

中文翻译：

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啮齿类动物的情绪传染：机制和多模式视角的综合探索

情绪传染是同理心的一个基本方面，是一个自动、无意识的过程，在这个过程中，个体模仿他人的情绪并与他人同步。在啮齿类动物中进行了广泛的研究，这种现象是通过一系列感觉通路介导的，每种感觉通路都提供了不同的见解。嗅觉通路以两种受催产素调节的信息素为标志，在传递情绪状态中起着至关重要的作用。听觉通路涉及吱吱声和特定的超声波发声，与各种情绪状态相关，对于啮齿类动物的表达和交流至关重要。视觉通路虽然较少依赖，但包含观察运动和面部表情。触觉通路是最近的一个焦点，它强调了身体互动（例如相互梳理和社会情感触摸）在调节情绪状态中的重要性。这篇全面的综述不仅强调了合理的神经机制，而且还为未来的研究提出了关键问题。它强调了情感传染中多模式整合的复杂性，为人类心理学、神经科学、动物福利以及动物-人类-人工智能交互的新兴领域提供了宝贵的见解，从而有助于发展更具同理心的智能未来。