Magnus Helgheim Blystad

Magnus Blystad has dedicated a significant part of his research to the study of empathy and prosocial behavior in rodents. Through his work at the 'Emotions and Empathy Lab' at Oslo New University College, Blystad has researched empathy understanding, and conducted research on social animal behavior.

His research contributes to a deeper understanding of the biological foundations of social behavior and empathy, and about the content of the concept of empathy.

Education

• 2015-2020 Ph.D. in Experimental Behavior Analysis/Social Neuroscience, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University
• 2010-2012 MSc in Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• 2007-2010 BSc in Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
   

Positions

• 2021-Present: Associate Professor, Oslo New University College, Oslo, Norway
• 2018-2021: Course Developer, Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University
• 2015-2021: Course Coordinator, PSYK2100 Collecting, Recording, and Analyzing Data, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Teaching

• Course leader in Biological Psychology at Oslo New University College. Responsible for designing and conducting the course, including lectures and student guidance.
• Guest lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at Oslo New University College. Has held guest lectures covering topics such as motor cognition and consciousness.
• Guest lecturer in Social Psychology at Oslo New University College. Contributes lectures on how people are influenced by biological aspects.

Research area

• Prosocial behavior in animals/animal models
• Empathy-like behavior in rodents
• Understanding empathy and theories of empathy
• Social behavioral neuroscience

Selected publications

• Blystad, M. H., & Grøgaard, S. C. (2024). Empatiens mange ansikter: fenomenologisk og positivistisk empati. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening, 60(12), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.52734/erkp8472
• Blystad, M. H., P. Asare, D. Andersen, & Espen B. Johansen. (2023). The social release paradigm: investigations of restrainer aversion. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 49(1). https://doi.org/10.5514/rmac.v49.i1.86204 
• Blystad, M. H., & Hansen, S. (2022). Empathy or not empathy, that’s the question—A pragmatic behavior analytical approach. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 22(2), 224–237. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000242
• Blystad MH. (2021) An opinion on the interpretation of social release in rats. Biology Letters. 17: 20210355. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0355
• Blystad, M.H., Andersen, D., Johansen, E.B. (2019). Female rats release a trapped cagemate following shaping of the door opening response: Opening latency when the restrainer was baited with food, was empty, or contained a cagemate. PLOS ONE, 14: e0223039. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223039

Outreach

• Myrmæl, M. E., Blomster, Johanna L. & Blystad, M. H. (2024, April 8). Psykt Interessant! – Hva er empati. Spotify. 
• Blomster Lyshol, J.K, Blystad, M.H., Isager, P. M. & Bastos, R. (2023, April 27-28), Empathy among laypeople - Replication of Hall, Schwartz, & Duong, 2021. [Konferanse presentasjon]. Norwegian Social and Community Psychology Conference, Trondheim, Norway
• Myrmæl, M. E., & Blystad, M. H. (2023, March 20). Psykt Interessant - Signalstoffer i hjernen - Hvordan påvirker det psyken vår? Spotify. 
• Myrmæl, M. E., & Blystad, M. H. (2023, February 6). Psykt Interessant! - Den fascinerende hjernen. Spotify. 
• Blystad, M. H. (2022). Er empati noe vi har eller noe vi gjør? *Forskersonen.no*. https://www.forskersonen.no/meninger-populaervitenskap-psykologi/er-empati-noe-vi-har-eller-noe-vi-gjor/2062504
• Blystad, M. H., & Bendiksen, K. (2020, August 14). Studio 2 - Rotter på vandring i Malmø. NRK P2. https://radio.nrk.no/serie/studio-2-p2/sesong/202008#t=1h14m4s
• Blystad, M. H., & Sjøberg, E. A. (2018). Å gi menneskelige egenskaper til dyr kan være problematisk. *Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.).*
• Blystad, M. H., & Råbu, M. (2017, May 13). Ekko Helg - Treng me meir eller mindre empati? NRK P2. https://radio.nrk.no/serie/ekko/MDSP31001917/13-05-2017