ERIC KANDEL: You just want to walk up to her and put your arms around her and protect her, not only because she's cold, but also because she's sensually rather attractive and you're drawn to her.

NARRATOR: What are some of the things that happen in our brains when we look at this sculpture? Neuroscientist Eric Kandel.

ERIC KANDEL: So this activates a number of systems in the brain, those that are concerned with temperature regulation. How does that work? We are sometimes so moved by what is being depicted that we simulate the action, and there's a system in the brain called the mirror neuron system, which obviously is responding to the fact that she's shivering, and we actually feel cold when we look at something like this.

There is an area called theory of mind that becomes active when we have empathy. What is it like to be in that situation? With this sculpture, we express empathy—this poor young woman—and also, it's slightly charged sexually. So it appeals to us on many, many levels. It's remarkable.