Empathy represses analytic thought, and vice versa

At rest, our brains cycle between the social and analytical networks. But when presented with a task, healthy adults engage the appropriate neural pathway, the researchers found. The study shows for the first time that we have a built-in neural constraint on our ability to be both empathetic and analytic at the same time

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121030161416.htm