Forms of Empathy and Implicit Bias: A view from the brain

Dr. Iacoboni, well known for his work on mirror neurons, describes it this way:

My early work focused on mirroring as a form of affective empathy [the sensations and feelings we get in response to others' emotions*]. However, in my lab we also noticed that affective empathy seemed to modulate more cognitive forms of empathy [our ability to identify and understand other people’s emotions*], even though the brain imaging literature seemed to suggest a division of labor between neural systems for affective and cognitive empathy. In our recent work we do show that there are continuous interactions between systems for affective and cognitive empathy, even in the resting brain. 
 
Our current work is focused on modulating implicit bias toward others. Implicit bias is difficult to overcome because of its implicit nature. We are using both noninvasive brain stimulation and virtual reality interactions to attempt to modulate implicit bias through self and other biological motion. 
[*Empathy Defined: Greater Good Magazine U. California Berkley]