The ability to empathize—matching and sharing the emotional states of others—plays a critical role in enabling smooth social communication among humans. Our previous work has identified that neurons in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) serve as a central hub for certain empathic phenomena. The present project aims to elucidate how vmPFC neurons represent information about the self and others, and to determine whether such representations are indeed necessary for empathy. Through this approach, we seek to establish a pioneering understanding of the higher-order brain function of “empathy.”