Aww, Michelle! Thanks! I was reading this and getting ready to post this to Facebook and I saw #18. Totally honored. (And in great company.)

Hi Jon, there is actually a great deal of research on this, though the infographic doesn't go into great detail. Caroline Myss is one good source, as is Robert Sapolsky. There are also many studies comparing dermatomes and acupuncture/acupressure meridians and reported pain patterns by PTSD sufferers that support much of this data.

Yes, as a few people commented below, Carolyn Myss writes a great deal on this!

Thank you!

Yes! If we spent half as much time focusing on empathy as we did student self esteem, bullying would be a far smaller problem.

Amen, these guys are a drop in the bucket of an ocean worth of conversation that needs to happen. I do think that the research on the brain is relevant, and for those who are of a scientific mind to look at these things, sometimes that carries more weight than just emotional appeals. I thought it was interesting and worth sharing, but the conversation on empathy and where it is lacking in society is a much bigger one than this.

Thank you. And thank you for all of it—even the parts that were difficult.

I love you, Michelle! ;)

Criticism of her point of view is fine. We don't tolerate bashing of the writer or other commenters, or random ad hominem attacks. Please keep to the issues in the article if you'd like to keep commenting.

I'm looking forward to reading the completed work! I've been doing a great deal of writing and research on touch and neuroplasticity this year...it's a fascinating topic. I believe as we continue exploring this, we'll learn what many cultures already know: what the West calls aging is actually inflexibility. With a mindful approach to our physical and spiritual practices, we will continue making these new connections throughout our lives and understand why so many cultures that embrace these things revere their elderly.