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Nguyen T, Kungl MT, Hoehl S, White LO, Vrtička P. Visualizing the invisible tie: Linking parent-child neural synchrony to parents' and children's attachment representations. Dev Sci 2024:e13504. [PMID: 38523055 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
It is a central tenet of attachment theory that individual differences in attachment representations organize behavior during social interactions. Secure attachment representations also facilitate behavioral synchrony, a key component of adaptive parent-child interactions. Yet, the dynamic neural processes underlying these interactions and the potential role of attachment representations remain largely unknown. A growing body of research indicates that interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) could be a potential neurobiological correlate of high interaction and relationship quality. In this study, we examined whether interpersonal neural and behavioral synchrony during parent-child interaction is associated with parent and child attachment representations. In total, 140 parents (74 mothers and 66 fathers) and their children (age 5-6 years; 60 girls and 80 boys) engaged in cooperative versus individual problem-solving. INS in frontal and temporal regions was assessed with functional near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning. Attachment representations were ascertained by means of the Adult Attachment Interview in parents and a story-completion task in children, alongside video-coded behavioral synchrony. Findings revealed increased INS during cooperative versus individual problem solving across all dyads (𝛸2(2) = 9.37, p = 0.009). Remarkably, individual differences in attachment representations were associated with INS but not behavioral synchrony (p > 0.159) during cooperation. More specifically, insecure maternal attachment representations were related to higher mother-child INS in frontal regions (𝛸2(3) = 9.18, p = 0.027). Conversely, secure daughter attachment representations were related to higher daughter-parent INS within temporal regions (𝛸2(3) = 12.58, p = 0.006). Our data thus provide further indication for INS as a promising correlate to probe the neurobiological underpinnings of attachment representations in the context of early parent-child interactions. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: We assessed attachment representations using narrative measures and interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) during parent-child problem-solving. Dyads including mothers with insecure attachment representations showed higher INS in left prefrontal regions. Dyads including daughters with secure attachment representations showed higher INS in right temporo-parietal regions. INS is a promising correlate to probe the neurobiological underpinnings of attachment representations in the context of parent-child interactions, especially within the mutual prediction framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinh Nguyen
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Neuroscience of Perception and Action Lab, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Melanie T Kungl
- Department of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Hoehl
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lars O White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Clinical Psychology, Psychological University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pascal Vrtička
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Centre for Brain Science, Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
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2
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Gunia A, Moraresku S, Janča R, Ježdík P, Kalina A, Hammer J, Marusič P, Vlček K. The brain dynamics of visuospatial perspective-taking captured by intracranial EEG. Neuroimage 2024; 285:120487. [PMID: 38072339 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Visuospatial perspective-taking (VPT) is the ability to imagine a scene from a position different from the one used in self-perspective judgments (SPJ). We typically use VPT to understand how others see the environment. VPT requires overcoming the self-perspective, and impairments in this process are implicated in various brain disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism. However, the underlying brain areas of VPT are not well distinguished from SPJ-related ones and from domain-general responses to both perspectives. In addition, hierarchical processing theory suggests that domain-specific processes emerge over time from domain-general ones. It mainly focuses on the sensory system, but outside of it, support for this hypothesis is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to spatiotemporally distinguish brain responses domain-specific to VPT from the specific ones to self-perspective, and domain-general responses to both perspectives. In particular, we intended to test whether VPT- and SPJ specific responses begin later than the general ones. We recorded intracranial EEG data from 30 patients with epilepsy who performed a task requiring laterality judgments during VPT and SPJ, and analyzed the spatiotemporal features of responses in the broad gamma band (50-150 Hz). We found VPT-specific processing in a more extensive brain network than SPJ-specific processing. Their dynamics were similar, but both differed from the general responses, which began earlier and lasted longer. Our results anatomically distinguish VPT-specific from SPJ-specific processing. Furthermore, we temporally differentiate between domain-specific and domain-general processes both inside and outside the sensory system, which serves as a novel example of hierarchical processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gunia
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Sofiia Moraresku
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Janča
- Department of Circuit Theory, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Ježdík
- Department of Circuit Theory, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adam Kalina
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Hammer
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Marusič
- Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Vlček
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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3
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Nejati V, Mardanpour A, Zabihzaheh A, Estaji R, Vaziri ZS, Shahidi S. The role of prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction in interpersonal comfort and emotional approach. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21636. [PMID: 38062055 PMCID: PMC10703804 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48099-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Our perception of physical distance to individuals and stimuli is influenced by our mental distance and relatedness. The present study aimed to investigate the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) in interpersonal comfortable distance and approach behaviors towards emotional stimuli. Twenty healthy volunteers received brain stimulation in four separate sessions with a one-week interval, including anodal left dlPFC, anodal right vmPFC, anodal rTPJ, and sham condition, with an extracranial return electrode. Our results revealed an increase in interpersonal distance during anodal rTPJ stimulation and a decrease in distance to positive pictures during anodal vmPFC stimulation. These findings suggest that the rTPJ plays a role in the perceptual component of self-other distancing, while the vmPFC is involved in approaching positive emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Nejati
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Aylin Mardanpour
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Zabihzaheh
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Estaji
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra S Vaziri
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahriar Shahidi
- Department of Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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4
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Christian P, Kapetaniou GE, Soutschek A. Causal roles of prefrontal and temporo-parietal theta oscillations for inequity aversion. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:nsad061. [PMID: 37930808 PMCID: PMC10642380 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) and the right lateral prefrontal cortex (rLPFC) are known to play prominent roles in human social behaviour. However, it remains unknown which brain rhythms in these regions contribute to trading-off fairness norms against selfish interests as well as whether the influence of these oscillations depends on whether fairness violations are advantageous or disadvantageous for a decision maker. To answer these questions, we used non-invasive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to determine which brain rhythms in rTPJ and rLPFC are causally involved in moderating aversion to advantageous and disadvantageous inequity. Our results show that theta oscillations in rTPJ strengthen the aversion to unequal splits, which is statistically mediated by the rTPJ's role for perspective taking. In contrast, theta tACS over rLPFC enhanced the preference for outcome-maximizing unequal choices more strongly for disadvantageous compared to advantageous outcome distributions. Taken together, we provide evidence that neural oscillations in rTPJ and rLPFC have distinct causal roles in implementing inequity aversion, which can be explained by their involvement in distinct psychological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Christian
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georgia E Kapetaniou
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Soutschek
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
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5
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Guo Y, Dong D, Wu H, Xue Z, Zhou F, Zhao L, Li Z, Feng T. The intracortical myelin content of impulsive choices: results from T1- and T2-weighted MRI myelin mapping. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:7163-7174. [PMID: 36748995 PMCID: PMC10422924 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Delay discounting (DD) refers to a phenomenon that humans tend to choose small-sooner over large-later rewards during intertemporal choices. Steep discounting of delayed outcome is related to a variety of maladaptive behaviors and is considered as a transdiagnostic process across psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have investigated the association between brain structure (e.g. gray matter volume) and DD; however, it is unclear whether the intracortical myelin (ICM) influences DD. Here, based on a sample of 951 healthy young adults drawn from the Human Connectome Project, we examined the relationship between ICM, which was measured by the contrast of T1w and T2w images, and DD and further tested whether the identified associations were mediated by the regional homogeneity (ReHo) of brain spontaneous activity. Vertex-wise regression analyses revealed that steeper DD was significantly associated with lower ICM in the left temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and right middle-posterior cingulate cortex. Region-of-interest analysis revealed that the ReHo values in the left TPJ partially mediated the association of its myelin content with DD. Our findings provide the first evidence that cortical myelination is linked with individual differences in decision impulsivity and suggest that the myelin content affects cognitive performances partially through altered local brain synchrony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqun Guo
- School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship education, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China
- Research Center of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China
| | - Debo Dong
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Huimin Wu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiyuan Xue
- School of Humanities and Management, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Le Zhao
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Zhangyong Li
- Research Center of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingyong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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6
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Ogawa K, Matsuyama Y. Heterogeneity of social cognition between visual perspective-taking and theory of mind in the temporo-parietal junction. Neurosci Lett 2023; 807:137267. [PMID: 37094640 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Visual perspective taking (VPT), particularly level 2 VPT (VPT2), which allows an individual to understand that the same object can be seen differently by others, is related to the theory of mind (ToM), because both functions require a decoupled representation from oneself. Although previous neuroimaging studies have shown that VPT and ToM activate the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), it is unclear whether common neural substrates are involved in VPT and ToM. To clarify this point, we directly compared the TPJ activation patterns of individual participants performing VPT2 and ToM tasks using functional magnetic resonance imaging and within-subjects design. A whole-brain analysis revealed that VPT2 and ToM activated overlapping areas in the posterior part of the TPJ. In addition, we found that both the peak coordinates and activated regions for ToM were located significantly more anteriorly and dorsally within the bilateral TPJ than those measured during the VPT2 task. We further confirmed that these activity areas were spatially distinct from the nearby extrastriate body area (EBA), visual motion area (MT+), and the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) using independent localizer scans. Our findings revealed that VPT2 and ToM have gradient representations, indicating the functional heterogeneity of social cognition within the TPJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Ogawa
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Human Sciences, Hokkaido University.
| | - Yuiko Matsuyama
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Human Sciences, Hokkaido University
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7
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Lu K, Gao Z, Wang X, Qiao X, He Y, Zhang Y, Hao N. The hyper-brain neural couplings distinguishing high-creative group dynamics: an fNIRS hyperscanning study. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1630-1642. [PMID: 35441220 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This hyperscanning study aimed to identify a neural coupling profile that distinguishes high-creative group dynamics through functional near infrared spectroscopy. A total of 123 dyads completed one creativity task (alternative uses task, AUT) and contrast task (objective characteristics task). A K-means clustering analysis on AUT performance grouped 31/29 dyads into high/low-creative group, respectively. In comparison with the low-creative group, the high-creative group showed: (i) higher collective flexibility and delayed perspective-taking behaviors, but lower immediate perspective-taking behaviors; (ii) enhanced interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) between the left inferior frontal gyrus (lIFG) and right motor cortex, and nodal Eloc at the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG); (iii) declined intrapersonal functional connectivity between the right angular gyrus (rAG) and rSTG, and IBS between the lIFG and rAG. The enhanced neural couplings positively correlated with group creative performance, whereas a reverse correlation pattern existed in the declined ones. A leave-one-out cross-validation analysis showed these neural couplings reliably predicted group creative performance within the sample. These indicate that high-creative group dynamics are characterized by utilizing partners' shared information when necessary (e.g. encountering idea exhaustion). A neural coupling profile consisting of sophisticated interplays between regions within frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes may underlie high-creative creative dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelong Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Zhenni Gao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Xinuo Qiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Yingyao He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Ning Hao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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8
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Kampis D, Lukowski Duplessy H, Askitis D, Southgate V. Training self-other distinction facilitates perspective taking in young children. Child Dev 2023. [PMID: 36794342 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
People sometimes commit 'egocentric errors', failing to ignore their own perspective when interpreting others' communication. Training imitation-inhibition, when participants perform the opposite action from another person, facilitates subsequent perspective-taking in adults. This study tested whether imitation-inhibition training also facilitates perspective-taking in 3- to 6-year-olds, an age where egocentric perspective may be particularly influential. Children participated in a 10-min imitation-inhibition, imitation, or non-social-inhibition training (white, n = 25 per condition, 33 female, period: 2018-2021), then the communicative-perspective-taking Director task. Training had a significant effect (F(2, 71) = 3.316, p = .042, η2 = .085): on critical trials, the imitation-inhibition-group selected the correct object more often than the other groups. Imitation-inhibition training specifically enhanced the perspective-taking process possibly by highlighting the distinction between self and other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Kampis
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Dimitrios Askitis
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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He Y, Wang X, Lu K, Hao N. Letting leaders spontaneously emerge yields better creative outcomes and higher leader-follower interbrain synchrony during creative group communication. Cereb Cortex 2023:7008113. [PMID: 36708018 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate how the ways leaders arise (appointed vs. emergent) affect the leader-follower interaction during creative group communication. Hyperscanning technique was adopted to reveal the underlying interpersonal neural correlates using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Participants were assigned into 3-person groups to complete a creative problem-solving task. These groups were randomly split into conditions of appointed (condition A) and emergent (condition E) leaders. Creative group outcomes were better in condition E, accompanied by more frequent perspective-taking behaviors between leaders and followers. The interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) increment for leader-follower pairs was significantly higher at the right angular gyrus (rAG), between the rAG and the right supramarginal gyrus (rSMG), and between the right middle temporal gyrus and the right motor cortex in condition E and positively correlated with perspective-taking behaviors between leaders and followers. The graph-based analysis showed higher nodal betweenness of the rAG and the rSMG in condition E. These results indicated the neural coupling of brain regions involved in mentalizing, semantic processing and motor imagery may underlie the dynamic information transmission between leaders and followers during creative group communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyao He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, No. 3663, North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, No. 3663, North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Kelong Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, No. 3663, North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Ning Hao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, No. 3663, North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai 200062, China
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10
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Jääskeläinen IP, Kosonogov V. Perspective taking in the human brain: complementary evidence from neuroimaging studies with media-based naturalistic stimuli and artificial controlled paradigms. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1051934. [PMID: 36875238 PMCID: PMC9975546 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1051934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Perception and interpretation of various types of events and information in life crucially depend on one's perspective. A specific perspective can be explicitly adopted, for example, via instructing an experimental subject, implicitly via a priori information given to subjects, and by subjects' personality traits or cultural background. The neural basis of perspective taking has been addressed in a number of recent neuroimaging studies, some of which have used movies and narratives as media-based stimuli to pursue a holistic understanding of the phenomenon under ecologically valid conditions. Results across these studies suggest that the human brain flexibly adapts to support the information-processing needs of different perspectives, however, also that inferior temporal-occipital areas and posterior-medial parietal areas are engaged across different perspectives. These findings are complemented by studies that have investigated specific aspects of perspective taking with highly controlled experimental designs. They have disclosed involvement of the temporoparietal junction in visual perspective taking and the importance of the affective component of the pain matrix when empathizing with others' pain. Identification with the protagonists also seems to matter, as dorsomedial vs. ventromedial prefrontal areas are recruited when the protagonist is dissimilar vs. similar to self. Finally, as a translational aspect, perspective taking can, under certain conditions, serve as an effective emotion regulation technique, wherein lateral and medial regions of the prefrontal cortex seem to support reappraisal processes. Together, findings from studies with media-based stimuli and more traditional paradigms complement each other to gain a comprehensive understanding of the neural basis of perspective taking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iiro P Jääskeläinen
- Brain and Mind Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Vladimir Kosonogov
- International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
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11
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Doricchi F, Lasaponara S, Pazzaglia M, Silvetti M. Left and right temporal-parietal junctions (TPJs) as "match/mismatch" hedonic machines: A unifying account of TPJ function. Phys Life Rev 2022; 42:56-92. [PMID: 35901654 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Experimental and theoretical studies have tried to gain insights into the involvement of the Temporal Parietal Junction (TPJ) in a broad range of cognitive functions like memory, attention, language, self-agency and theory of mind. Recent investigations have demonstrated the partition of the TPJ in discrete subsectors. Nonetheless, whether these subsectors play different roles or implement an overarching function remains debated. Here, based on a review of available evidence, we propose that the left TPJ codes both matches and mismatches between expected and actual sensory, motor, or cognitive events while the right TPJ codes mismatches. These operations help keeping track of statistical contingencies in personal, environmental, and conceptual space. We show that this hypothesis can account for the participation of the TPJ in disparate cognitive functions, including "humour", and explain: a) the higher incidence of spatial neglect in right brain damage; b) the different emotional reactions that follow left and right brain damage; c) the hemispheric lateralisation of optimistic bias mechanisms; d) the lateralisation of mechanisms that regulate routine and novelty behaviours. We propose that match and mismatch operations are aimed at approximating "free energy", in terms of the free energy principle of decision-making. By approximating "free energy", the match/mismatch TPJ system supports both information seeking to update one's own beliefs and the pleasure of being right in one's own' current choices. This renewed view of the TPJ has relevant clinical implications because the misfunctioning of TPJ-related "match" and "mismatch" circuits in unilateral brain damage can produce low-dimensional deficits of active-inference and predictive coding that can be associated with different neuropsychological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Doricchi
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Roma, Italy.
| | - Stefano Lasaponara
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Mariella Pazzaglia
- Dipartimento di Psicologia 39, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italy; Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Silvetti
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Lab (CTNLab), Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
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12
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Repetti C, Eskenazi M, Garcia S. You feel me? A randomized trial of tDCS on pain empathy. Int J Psychophysiol 2022; 179:1-5. [PMID: 35753564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Pain empathy has a number of social benefits, but can be problematic in those who feel the pain of others too much. The current study examined the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a modifier of pain empathy with the expectation that cathodal stimulation would decrease pain empathy. Anxiety and general empathy were controlled for, given past work demonstrating their impact on pain empathy. Participants were randomized to either active (cathodal; n = 55) or sham tDCS (n = 55) at 2 mA for 20 min while watching videos of painful events and completing a pain empathy simulation questionnaire. Bayesian linear regression analysis indicated no evidence that tDCS condition affected pain empathy. However, there was strong evidence in favor of a positive relationship between anxiety and pain empathy, and extreme evidence between general empathy and pain empathy. The current study examined a montage over the temporoparietal junction though future work should also investigate other areas related to pain empathy such as the anterior cingulate cortex. Results provide evidence of the need for stronger methodological considerations with regard to tDCS including larger sample sizes. Further, the connection between anxiety and pain empathy demonstrates the need for treatments to not only target classic anxiety symptoms, but other factors than may worsen daily functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah Garcia
- Stetson University, DeLand, FL, United States of America.
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13
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Transcranial direct current stimulation of the LTPJ shifts the agent’s behaviors in repeated hold-up game. Neurosci Res 2022; 181:79-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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14
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Metoki A, Wang Y, Olson IR. The Social Cerebellum: A Large-Scale Investigation of Functional and Structural Specificity and Connectivity. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:987-1003. [PMID: 34428293 PMCID: PMC8890001 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum has been traditionally disregarded in relation to nonmotor functions, but recent findings indicate it may be involved in language, affective processing, and social functions. Mentalizing, or Theory of Mind (ToM), is the ability to infer mental states of others and this skill relies on a distributed network of brain regions. Here, we leveraged large-scale multimodal neuroimaging data to elucidate the structural and functional role of the cerebellum in mentalizing. We used functional activations to determine whether the cerebellum has a domain-general or domain-specific functional role, and effective connectivity and probabilistic tractography to map the cerebello-cerebral mentalizing network. We found that the cerebellum is organized in a domain-specific way and that there is a left cerebellar effective and structural lateralization, with more and stronger effective connections from the left cerebellar hemisphere to the right cerebral mentalizing areas, and greater cerebello-thalamo-cortical and cortico-ponto-cerebellar streamline counts from and to the left cerebellum. Our study provides novel insights to the network organization of the cerebellum, an overlooked brain structure, and mentalizing, one of humans' most essential abilities to navigate the social world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasia Metoki
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Neurology,Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Yin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ingrid R Olson
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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15
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Rilling JK, Gonzalez A, Lee M. The neural correlates of grandmaternal caregiving. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211997. [PMID: 34784762 PMCID: PMC8596004 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In many societies, grandmothers are important caregivers, and grandmaternal investment is often associated with improved grandchild well-being. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first study to examine grandmaternal brain function. We recruited 50 grandmothers with at least one biological grandchild between 3 and 12 years old. Brain function was measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging as grandmothers viewed pictures of their grandchild, an unknown child, the same-sex parent of the grandchild, and an unknown adult. Grandmothers also completed questionnaires to measure their degree of involvement with and attachment to their grandchild. After controlling for age and familiarity of stimuli, viewing grandchild pictures activated areas involved with emotional empathy (insula and secondary somatosensory cortex) and movement (motor cortex and supplementary motor area). Grandmothers who more strongly activated areas involved with cognitive empathy (temporo-parietal junction and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex) when viewing pictures of the grandchild desired greater involvement in caring for the grandchild. Finally, compared with results from an earlier study of fathers, grandmothers more strongly activated regions involved with emotional empathy (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, insula and secondary somatosensory cortex), and motivation (nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum and caudate nucleus). All in all, our findings suggest that emotional empathy may be a key component of grandmaternal responses to their grandchildren.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K. Rilling
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amber Gonzalez
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Minwoo Lee
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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16
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Konovalov A, Hill C, Daunizeau J, Ruff CC. Dissecting functional contributions of the social brain to strategic behavior. Neuron 2021; 109:3323-3337.e5. [PMID: 34407389 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Social interactions routinely lead to neural activity in a "social brain network" comprising, among other regions, the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). But what is the function of these areas? Are they specialized for behavior in social contexts or do they implement computations required for dealing with any reactive process, even non-living entities? Here, we use fMRI and a game paradigm separating the need for these two aspects of cognition. We find that most social-brain areas respond to both social and non-social reactivity rather than just to human opponents. However, the TPJ shows a dissociation from the dmPFC: its activity and connectivity primarily reflect context-dependent outcome processing and reactivity detection, while dmPFC engagement is linked to implementation of a behavioral strategy. Our results characterize an overarching computational property of the social brain but also suggest specialized roles for subregions of this network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arkady Konovalov
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics (ZNE), Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland.
| | - Christopher Hill
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics (ZNE), Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Jean Daunizeau
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France; Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Paris, France; INSERM UMR S975, Paris, France
| | - Christian C Ruff
- Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics (ZNE), Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland.
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17
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Sowden S, Khemka D, Catmur C. Regulating mirroring of emotions A social-specific mechanism? Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2021; 75:1302-1313. [PMID: 34541953 PMCID: PMC9131398 DOI: 10.1177/17470218211049780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence that humans mirror others’ emotional responses: brain responses to observed and experienced emotion overlap, and reaction time costs of observing others’ pain suggest that others’ emotional states interfere with our own. Such emotional mirroring requires regulation to prevent personal distress. However, currently it is unclear whether this “empathic interference effect” is uniquely social, arising only from the observation of human actors, or also from the observation of non-biological objects in “painful” states. Moreover, the degree to which this interference relates to individual differences in self-reported levels of empathy is yet to be revealed. We introduce a modified pain observation task, measuring empathic interference effects induced by observation of painful states applied to both biological and non-biological stimuli. An initial validation study (N = 50) confirmed that painful states applied to biological stimuli were rated explicitly as more painful than non-painful states applied to biological stimuli, and also than both painful and non-painful states applied to non-biological stimuli. Subsequently, across two independent discovery (N = 83) and replication (N = 80) samples, the task elicited slowing of response times during the observation of painful states when compared to non-painful states, but the magnitude of this effect did not differ between biological and non-biological stimuli. Little evidence was found for reliable relationships between empathic interference and self-reported empathy. Caution should therefore be taken in using the current task to pursue an individual differences approach to empathic interference, but the task shows promise for investigating the specificity of the mechanism involved in regulating emotional mirroring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Sowden
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Divyush Khemka
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Caroline Catmur
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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18
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Lu K, Qiao X, Yun Q, Hao N. Educational diversity and group creativity: Evidence from fNIRS hyperscanning. Neuroimage 2021; 243:118564. [PMID: 34506915 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Educational diversity is defined as the diversity of educational backgrounds measured by multiple subjects. This study aimed to unveil the interpersonal neural correlates that underlie the effect of group educational diversity on group creativity. One hundred and sixteen college students were assigned to high educational diversity (HD; the members respectively majored in science or social science) or low educational diversity (LD; the members both majored in either science or social science) groups based on their academic majors. They were required to solve two problems that either demanded creativity (alternative uses task, AUT) or not (object characteristics task). We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based hyperscanning to simultaneously record the neural responses of pairs of interacting participants in each group. The LD group showed more AUT fluency and perspective-taking behaviours than the HD group, whereas no group difference was observed for AUT uniqueness. Additionally, collective flexibility was higher in the HD group than in the LD group. The fNIRS results showed that the interpersonal brain synchronisation (IBS) increments at the right angular gyrus and right primary somatosensory cortex were greater in the LD group than in the HD group. These findings indicate that although high educational diversity benefits cognitive flexibility, it does not necessarily lead to a better idea quality or greater idea quantity. The greater IBS increments and perspective-taking behaviours that we observed in the LD group may account for this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelong Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinuo Qiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Yun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Hao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
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19
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Broomell AP, Savla J, Calkins SD, Bell MA. Infant electroencephalogram coherence and early childhood inhibitory control: Foundations for social cognition in late childhood. Dev Psychol 2021; 57:1439-1451. [PMID: 34929089 PMCID: PMC8688835 DOI: 10.1037/dev0001241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Social cognition is a set of complex processes that mediate much of human behavior. The development of these skills is related to and interdependent on other cognitive processes, particularly inhibitory control. Brain regions associated with inhibitory control and social cognition overlap functionally and structurally, especially with respect to frontal brain areas. We proposed that the neural foundations of inhibitory control and social cognition are measurable in infancy. We used structural equation modeling and showed that 10-month frontotemporal neuroconnectivity measured using electroencephalogram coherence predicts social cognition at 9 years of age through age-4 inhibitory control. These findings provide insight into the neurodevelopmental trajectory of cognition and suggest that connectivity from frontal regions to other parts of the brain is a foundation for the development of these skills. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jyoti Savla
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech
| | - Susan D. Calkins
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
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20
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Baiano C, Job X, Santangelo G, Auvray M, Kirsch LP. Interactions between interoception and perspective-taking: Current state of research and future directions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:252-262. [PMID: 34400177 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Interoception, the sense of the physiological state of the body, and perspective-taking, the ability to take another's point of view, are two fundamental components contributing to our perception and interaction with the external world. However, whether the perception of our inner body influences how we perceive the external world and other people remains poorly understood. Here, we review recent behavioural and neuroimaging evidence investigating the links between dimensions of interoception (i.e., accuracy, sensibility and awareness) and perspective-taking (i.e., affective, cognitive and visual). So far, only a limited subset of these dimensions has been investigated together and the results suggest that interoceptive abilities may only interact with perspective-taking when embodied mental transformations are required. Furthermore, mainly the emotional aspects of perspective-taking are related to interoception, influencing the ability to empathise with others. Future research should systematically investigate the links between all dimensions of interoception and perspective-taking to provide full understanding of the specific role interoception has on how we perceive the world and take another's point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Baiano
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
| | - Xavier Job
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Gabriella Santangelo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Malika Auvray
- Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| | - Louise P Kirsch
- Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
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21
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Yao YW, Chopurian V, Zhang L, Lamm C, Heekeren HR. Effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on visual perspective taking: A meta-analytic study. Neuroimage 2021; 242:118462. [PMID: 34384909 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual perspective taking (VPT) is a critical ability required by complex social interaction. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been increasingly used to examine the causal relationship between brain activity and VPT, yet with heterogeneous results. In the current study, we conducted two meta-analyses to examine the effects of NIBS of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) or dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) on VPT, respectively. We performed a comprehensive literature search to identify qualified studies and computed the standardized effect size (ES) for each combination of VPT level (Level-1: visibility judgment; Level-2: mental rotation) and perspective (self and other). Thirteen studies (rTPJ: 12 studies, 23 ESs; dmPFC: 4 studies, 14 ESs) were included in the meta-analyses. Random-effects models were used to generate the overall effects. Subgroup analyses for distinct VPT conditions were also performed. We found that rTPJ stimulation significantly improved participants' visibility judgment from the allocentric perspective, whereas its effects on other VPT conditions are negligible. Stimulation of dmPFC appeared to influence Level-1 performance from the egocentric perspective, although this finding was only based on a small number of studies. Notably, contrary to some theoretical models, we did not find strong evidence that these regions are involved in Level-2 VPT with a higher requirement of mental rotation. These findings not only advance our understanding of the causal roles of the rTPJ and dmPFC in VPT, but also reveal that the efficacy of NIBS on VPT is relatively small. Additionally, researchers should also be cautious about the potential publication bias and selective reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Wei Yao
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Vivien Chopurian
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lei Zhang
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hauke R Heekeren
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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22
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Wang Y, Metoki A, Xia Y, Zang Y, He Y, Olson IR. A large-scale structural and functional connectome of social mentalizing. Neuroimage 2021; 236:118115. [PMID: 33933599 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans have a remarkable ability to infer the mind of others. This mentalizing skill relies on a distributed network of brain regions but how these regions connect and interact is not well understood. Here we leveraged large-scale multimodal neuroimaging data to elucidate the brain-wide organization and mechanisms of mentalizing processing. Key connectomic features of the mentalizing network (MTN) have been delineated in exquisite detail. We found the structural architecture of MTN is organized by two parallel subsystems and constructed redundantly by local and long-range white matter fibers. We uncovered an intrinsic functional architecture that is synchronized according to the degree of mentalizing, and its hierarchy reflects the inherent information integration order. We also examined the correspondence between the structural and functional connectivity in the network and revealed their differences in network topology, individual variance, spatial specificity, and functional specificity. Finally, we scrutinized the connectome resemblance between the default mode network and MTN and elaborated their inherent differences in dynamic patterns, laterality, and homogeneity. Overall, our study demonstrates that mentalizing processing unfolds across functionally heterogeneous regions with highly structured fiber tracts and unique hierarchical functional architecture, which make it distinguishable from the default mode network and other vicinity brain networks supporting autobiographical memory, semantic memory, self-referential, moral reasoning, and mental time travel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Athanasia Metoki
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunman Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinyin Zang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ingrid R Olson
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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23
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Stimulation of the Social Brain Improves Perspective Selection in Older Adults: A HD-tDCS Study. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:1233-1245. [PMID: 34287817 PMCID: PMC8563543 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00929-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence for dissociable, causal roles for two key social brain regions in young adults. Specifically, the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is associated with embodied perspective taking, whereas the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is associated with the integration of social information. However, it is unknown whether these causal brain-behaviour associations are evident in older adults. Fifty-two healthy older adults were stratified to receive either rTPJ or dmPFC anodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in a sham-controlled, double-blinded, repeated-measures design. Self-other processing was assessed across implicit and explicit level one (line-of-sight) and level two (embodied rotation) visual perspective taking (VPT) tasks, and self-other encoding effects on episodic memory. Both rTPJ and dmPFC stimulation reduced the influence of the alternate perspective during level one VPT, indexed by a reduced congruency effect (difference between congruent and incongruent perspectives). There were no stimulation effects on level two perspective taking nor self-other encoding effects on episodic memory. Stimulation to the rTPJ and dmPFC improved perspective selection during level one perspective taking. However, dissociable effects on self-other processing, previously observed in young adults, were not identified in older adults. The results provide causal evidence for age-related changes in social brain function that requires further scrutinization.
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24
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Era V, Aglioti SM, Candidi M. Inhibitory Theta Burst Stimulation Highlights the Role of Left aIPS and Right TPJ during Complementary and Imitative Human-Avatar Interactions in Cooperative and Competitive Scenarios. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:1677-1687. [PMID: 31667496 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Competitive and cooperative interactions are based on anticipation or synchronization with the partner's actions. Both forms of interaction may either require performing imitative or complementary movements with respect to those performed by our partner. We explored how parietal regions involved in the control of imitative behavior (temporo-parietal junction, TPJ), goal coding and visuo-motor integration (anterior intraparietal sulcus, aIPS) contribute to the execution of imitative and complementary movements during cooperative and competitive interactions. To this aim, we delivered off-line non-invasive inhibitory brain stimulation to healthy individuals' left aIPS and right TPJ before they were asked to reach and grasp an object together with a virtual partner by either performing imitative or complementary interactions. In different blocks, participants were asked to compete or cooperate with the virtual partner that varied its behavior according to cooperative or competitive contexts. Left aIPS and right TPJ inhibition impaired individuals' performance (i.e., synchrony in cooperative task and anticipation in competition) during complementary and imitative interactions, respectively, in both cooperative and competitive contexts, indicating that aIPS and TPJ inhibition affects own-other action integration and action imitation (that are different in complementary vs imitative interactions) more than action synchronization or anticipation (that are different in cooperative vs competitive contexts).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Era
- SCNLab Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Maria Aglioti
- SCNLab Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Candidi
- SCNLab Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00185, Rome, Italy
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25
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Pereira HC, Sousa D, Simões M, Martins R, Amaral C, Lopes V, Crisóstomo J, Castelo-Branco M. Effects of anodal multichannel transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on social-cognitive performance in healthy subjects: A randomized sham-controlled crossover pilot study. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2021; 264:259-286. [PMID: 34167659 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that temporoparietal junction (TPJ) modulation can influence attention and social cognition performance. Nevertheless, no studies have used multichannel transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over bilateral TPJ to estimate the effects on these neuropsychological functions. The project STIPED is using optimized multichannel stimulation as an innovative treatment approach for chronic pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders, namely in children/adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this pilot study, we aim to explore whether anodal multichannel tDCS coupled with a Joint Attention Task (JAT) influences social-cognitive task performance relative to sham stimulation, both in an Emotion Recognition Task (ERT) and in a Mooney Faces Detection Task (MFDT), as well as to evaluate this technique's safety and tolerability. Twenty healthy adults were enrolled in a randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover study. During two sessions, participants completed the ERT and the MFDT before and after 20min of sham or anodal tDCS over bilateral TPJ. No significant differences on performance accuracy and reaction time were found between stimulation conditions for all tasks, including the JAT. A significant main time effect for overall accuracy and reaction time was found for the MFDT. Itching was the most common side effect and stimulation conditions detection was at chance level. Results suggest that multichannel tDCS over bilateral TPJ does not affect performance of low-level emotional recognition tasks in healthy adults. Although preliminary safety and tolerability are demonstrated, further studies over longer periods will be pursued to investigate the clinical efficacy in children/adolescents with ASD, where social cognition impairments are preponderant.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Catarina Pereira
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniela Sousa
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marco Simões
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Centre for Informatics and Systems, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Martins
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carlos Amaral
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vânia Lopes
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Crisóstomo
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Klein HS, Vanneste S, Pinkham AE. The limited effect of neural stimulation on visual attention and social cognition in individuals with schizophrenia. Neuropsychologia 2021; 157:107880. [PMID: 33961863 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research demonstrates a relationship between faulty visual attention and poorer social cognition in schizophrenia. One potential explanatory model suggests abnormal neuromodulation in specific neural networks may result in reduced attention to socially important cues, leading to poorer understanding of another's emotional state or intentions. OBJECTIVE The current study experimentally manipulated neural networks using tDCS to examine this potential causal mechanism. The primary aim was to determine whether stimulation to the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) improves visual attention, and secondary aims were to determine whether 1) stimulation improves social cognitive performance and 2) visual attention moderates this improved performance. METHOD Using a double-blind crossover design, 69 individuals with schizophrenia underwent both active and sham stimulation to either the rTPJ of the ventral attention network (n = 36) or the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex of the social brain network (dmPFC; n = 33). Following stimulation, participants completed tasks assessing emotion recognition and mentalizing. Concurrent eye tracking assessed visual attention, measuring proportion of time spent attending to areas of interest. RESULTS For emotion recognition, stimulation failed to impact either visual attention or social cognitive task accuracy. Similarly, neurostimulation failed to affect visual attention on the mentalizing task. However, exploratory analyses demonstrated that mentalizing accuracy significantly improved after stimulation to the active comparator, dmPFC, with no improvement after stimulation to rTPJ. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate limited effect of a single stimulation session on visual attention and emotion recognition accuracy but provide initial support for an alternate neural mechanism for mentalizing, highlighting the importance of executive functions over visual attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans S Klein
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.
| | - Sven Vanneste
- Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Amy E Pinkham
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX,, USA
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Gunia A, Moraresku S, Vlček K. Brain mechanisms of visuospatial perspective-taking in relation to object mental rotation and the theory of mind. Behav Brain Res 2021; 407:113247. [PMID: 33745982 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Visuospatial perspective-taking (VPT) is a process of imagining what can be seen and how a scene looks from a location and orientation in space that differs from one's own. It comprises two levels that are underpinned by distinct neurocognitive processes. Level-2 VPT is often studied in relation to two other cognitive phenomena, object mental rotation (oMR) and theory of mind (ToM). With the aim to describe the broad picture of neurocognitive processes underlying level-2 VPT, here we give an overview of the recent behavioral and neuroscientific findings of level-2 VPT. We discuss its relation to level-1 VPT, which is also referred to as perspective-tracking, and the neighboring topics, oMR and ToM. Neuroscientific research shows that level-2 VPT is a diverse cognitive process, encompassing functionally distinct neural circuits. It shares brain substrates with oMR, especially those parietal brain areas that are specialized in spatial reasoning. However, compared to oMR, level-2 VPT involves additional activations in brain structures that are typically involved in ToM tasks and deal with self/other distinctions. In addition, level-2 VPT has been suggested to engage brain areas coding for internal representations of the body. Thus, the neurocognitive model underpinning level-2 VPT can be understood as a combination of visuospatial processing with social cognition and body schema representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gunia
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Sofiia Moraresku
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Kamil Vlček
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Memory, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Imitation or Polarity Correspondence? Behavioural and Neurophysiological Evidence for the Confounding Influence of Orthogonal Spatial Compatibility on Measures of Automatic Imitation. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:212-230. [PMID: 33432546 PMCID: PMC7994238 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00860-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
During social interactions, humans tend to imitate one another involuntarily. To investigate the neurocognitive mechanisms driving this tendency, researchers often employ stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) tasks to assess the influence that action observation has on action execution. This is referred to as automatic imitation (AI). The stimuli used frequently in SRC procedures to elicit AI often confound action-related with other nonsocial influences on behaviour; however, in response to the rotated hand-action stimuli employed increasingly, AI partly reflects unspecific up-right/down-left biases in stimulus-response mapping. Despite an emerging awareness of this confounding orthogonal spatial-compatibility effect, psychological and neuroscientific research into social behaviour continues to employ these stimuli to investigate AI. To increase recognition of this methodological issue, the present study measured the systematic influence of orthogonal spatial effects on behavioural and neurophysiological measures of AI acquired with rotated hand-action stimuli in SRC tasks. In Experiment 1, behavioural data from a large sample revealed that complex orthogonal spatial effects exert an influence on AI over and above any topographical similarity between observed and executed actions. Experiment 2 reproduced this finding in a more systematic, within-subject design, and high-density electroencephalography revealed that electrocortical expressions of AI elicited also are modulated by orthogonal spatial compatibility. Finally, source localisations identified a collection of cortical areas sensitive to this spatial confound, including nodes of the multiple-demand and semantic-control networks. These results indicate that AI measured on SRC procedures with the rotated hand stimuli used commonly might reflect neurocognitive mechanisms associated with spatial associations rather than imitative tendencies.
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Loued-Khenissi L, Preuschoff K. A Bird's eye view from below: Activity in the temporo-parietal junction predicts from-above Necker Cube percepts. Neuropsychologia 2020; 149:107654. [PMID: 33069790 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) consistently emerges in other-regarding behavior, including tasks probing affective phenomena such as morality and empathy. Yet the TPJ is also recruited in processes with no affective or social component, such as visuo-spatial processing and mathematical cognition. We present serendipitous findings from a perceptual decision-making task on a bistable stimulus, the Necker Cube, performed in an MRI scanner. The stimulus in question is a transparent, wire-frame cube that evokes spontaneous switches in perception. Individuals can view the cube from below or from above, though a consistent bias is shown towards seeing the cube from above. We replicate this bias, finding participants spend more time in the from-above percept. However, in testing for BOLD differences between percept orientations, we found robust responses in bilateral TPJ for the from-above > from-below perceptual state. We speculate that this neural response comes from the sensory incongruence of viewing an object from above while lying supine in the scanner. We further speculate that the TPJ resolves this incongruence by facilitating an egocentric projection. Such a function would explain the TPJ's ubiquitous response to other-regarding, visuo-spatial and mathematical cognition, as all these phenomena demand an ability to ambulate through the coordinate space. Our findings suggest the TPJ may not play a specific role in social or moral components of other-regarding behavior, such as altruism, and further indirectly suggest that "pure", allocentric altruism may not correlate with the TPJ. Results further have implications on how the TPJ may be modulated by activities such as flight or drone operation. Finally, this study highlights the possible need for congruence between stimuli and body position in neuroimaging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Loued-Khenissi
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Kerstin Preuschoff
- Geneva Finance Research Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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30
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Lu K, Yu T, Hao N. Creating while taking turns, the choice to unlocking group creative potential. Neuroimage 2020; 219:117025. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
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31
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Linking bodily, environmental and mental states in the self—A three-level model based on a meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 115:77-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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32
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Penton T, Catmur C, Banissy MJ, Bird G, Walsh V. Non-invasive stimulation in the social brain: the methodological challenges. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 17:15-25. [PMID: 32734295 PMCID: PMC9083106 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Use of non-invasive brain stimulation methods (NIBS) has become a common approach to study social processing in addition to behavioural, imaging and lesion studies. However, research using NIBS to investigate social processing faces challenges. Overcoming these is important to allow valid and reliable interpretation of findings in neurotypical cohorts, but also to allow us to tailor NIBS protocols to atypical groups with social difficulties. In this review, we consider the utility of brain stimulation as a technique to study and modulate social processing. We also discuss challenges that face researchers using NIBS to study social processing in neurotypical adults with a view to highlighting potential solutions. Finally, we discuss additional challenges that face researchers using NIBS to study and modulate social processing in atypical groups. These are important to consider given that NIBS protocols are rarely tailored to atypical groups before use. Instead, many rely on protocols designed for neurotypical adults despite differences in brain function that are likely to impact response to NIBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Penton
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, SE14 6NW, UK.,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Caroline Catmur
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Michael J Banissy
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, SE14 6NW, UK
| | - Geoffrey Bird
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PH
| | - Vincent Walsh
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
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Huang Y, Zhang B, Cao J, Yu S, Wilson G, Park J, Kong J. Potential Locations for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders-A Functional Connectivity Study. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:388. [PMID: 32457666 PMCID: PMC7221195 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is an emerging tool for treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Exploring new stimulation targets may improve the efficacy of NIBS for ASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS We first conducted a meta-analysis on 170 functional magnetic resonance imaging studies to identify ASD-associated brain regions. We then performed resting state functional connectivity analysis on 70 individuals with ASD to investigate brain surface regions correlated with these ASD-associated regions and identify potential NIBS targets for ASD. RESULTS We found that the medial prefrontal cortex, angular gyrus, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobe, postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, superior temporal sulcus, lateral occipital cortex, and supplementary motor area/paracentral gyrus are potential locations for NIBS in ASD. CONCLUSION Our findings may shed light on the development of new NIBS targets for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jian Kong
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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34
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Genschow O, Schuler J, Cracco E, Brass M, Wänke M. The Effect of Money Priming on Self-Focus in the Imitation-Inhibition Task. Exp Psychol 2020; 66:423-436. [PMID: 32054430 PMCID: PMC8210575 DOI: 10.1027/1618-3169/a000466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. The self-sufficiency hypothesis suggests that priming
individuals with money makes them focus more strongly on themselves than on
others. However, recently, research supporting this claim has been heavily
criticized and some attempts to replicate have failed. A reason for the
inconsistent findings in the field may lay in the common use of explicit
measures, because they tend to rely on one or just a few items and are thus
prone to demand effects and low reliability. In the present research, we
administered, in two experiments, the imitation-inhibition task – a
robust, unobtrusive, and reliable paradigm that is sensitive to self-other focus
on a trial-by-trial basis. A pilot study found an increased focus on the self as
compared to others when primed with money. Building on this finding, a
preregistered high-powered experiment replicated this effect, suggesting that
money primes may indeed increase a focus on the self. An additionally carried
out meta-analysis indicates that automatic imitation is modulated by self-other
focus and that money primes lead to a smaller focus on the self than
conventional methods. Overall, the found effects are rather small and several
limitations, such as order effects, call for a cautious interpretation of the
findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Genschow
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Schuler
- Fraunhofer Institute for System and Innovation Research, Germany
| | - Emiel Cracco
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Marcel Brass
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Michaela Wänke
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Mannheim, Germany
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35
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Lu K, Teng J, Hao N. Gender of partner affects the interaction pattern during group creative idea generation. Exp Brain Res 2020; 238:1157-1168. [PMID: 32236641 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05799-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine how gender composition affects the group creative process. Participants were recruited into dyads with different gender compositions (female-male dyad, F-M; female-female, F-F; male-male, and M-M) to solve two problems. One problem demanded creativity alternative use task (AUT) and the other did not object characteristic task. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based hyperscanning was used to record interpersonal neural responses. Results demonstrated no significant difference in creative performance among the three types of dyads. However, the F-F dyad showed higher levels of cooperative behaviour (i.e. the index of convergence) and collective flexibility than the other dyads. Also, in the fNIRS data, the F-F dyad showed higher interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) increments in the right posterior parietal cortex during the AUT than the other dyads, which covaried with their creative performance. These findings indicate that while solving a creativity problem together, females are more likely than males to consider others' perspectives. This gender difference might be due to the enhanced IBS increment in the right posterior parietal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelong Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, No. 3663, North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jing Teng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, No. 3663, North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Ning Hao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, No. 3663, North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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The Right Temporoparietal Junction Is Causally Associated with Embodied Perspective-taking. J Neurosci 2020; 40:3089-3095. [PMID: 32132264 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2637-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A prominent theory claims that the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is especially associated with embodied processes relevant to perspective-taking. In the present study, we use high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation to provide evidence that the rTPJ is causally associated with the embodied processes underpinning perspective-taking. Eighty-eight young human adults were stratified to receive either rTPJ or dorsomedial PFC anodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in a sham-controlled, double-blind, repeated-measures design. Perspective-tracking (line-of-sight) and perspective-taking (embodied rotation) were assessed using a visuo-spatial perspective-taking task that required understanding what another person could see or how they see it, respectively. Embodied processing was manipulated by positioning the participant in a manner congruent or incongruent with the orientation of an avatar on the screen. As perspective-taking, but not perspective-tracking, is influenced by bodily position, this allows the investigation of the specific causal role for the rTPJ in embodied processing. Crucially, anodal stimulation to the rTPJ increased the effect of bodily position during perspective-taking, whereas no such effects were identified during perspective-tracking, thereby providing evidence for a causal role for the rTPJ in the embodied component of perspective-taking. Stimulation to the dorsomedial PFC had no effect on perspective-tracking or taking. Therefore, the present study provides support for theories postulating that the rTPJ is causally involved in embodied cognitive processing relevant to social functioning.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The ability to understand another's perspective is a fundamental component of social functioning. Adopting another perspective is thought to involve both embodied and nonembodied processes. The present study used high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and provided causal evidence that the right temporoparietal junction is involved specifically in the embodied component of perspective-taking. Specifically, HD-tDCS to the right temporoparietal junction, but not another hub of the social brain (dorsomedial PFC), increased the effect of body position during perspective-taking, but not tracking. This is the first causal evidence that HD-tDCS can modulate social embodied processing in a site-specific and task-specific manner.
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Wiese E, Abubshait A, Azarian B, Blumberg EJ. Brain stimulation to left prefrontal cortex modulates attentional orienting to gaze cues. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 374:20180430. [PMID: 30852996 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In social interactions, we rely on non-verbal cues like gaze direction to understand the behaviour of others. How we react to these cues is determined by the degree to which we believe that they originate from an entity with a mind capable of having internal states and showing intentional behaviour, a process called mind perception. While prior work has established a set of neural regions linked to mind perception, research has just begun to examine how mind perception affects social-cognitive mechanisms like gaze processing on a neuronal level. In the current experiment, participants performed a social attention task (i.e. attentional orienting to gaze cues) with either a human or a robot agent (i.e. manipulation of mind perception) while transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was applied to prefrontal and temporo-parietal brain areas. The results show that temporo-parietal stimulation did not modulate mechanisms of social attention, neither in response to the human nor in response to the robot agent, whereas prefrontal stimulation enhanced attentional orienting in response to human gaze cues and attenuated attentional orienting in response to robot gaze cues. The findings suggest that mind perception modulates low-level mechanisms of social cognition via prefrontal structures, and that a certain degree of mind perception is essential in order for prefrontal stimulation to affect mechanisms of social attention. This article is part of the theme issue 'From social brains to social robots: applying neurocognitive insights to human-robot interaction'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Wiese
- Department of Psychology, Social and Cognitive Interactions Lab, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA , USA
| | - Abdulaziz Abubshait
- Department of Psychology, Social and Cognitive Interactions Lab, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA , USA
| | - Bobby Azarian
- Department of Psychology, Social and Cognitive Interactions Lab, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA , USA
| | - Eric J Blumberg
- Department of Psychology, Social and Cognitive Interactions Lab, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA , USA
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Yang L, Zhang W, Wang W, Yang Z, Wang H, Deng Z, Li C, Qiu B, Zhang D, Kadosh RC, Li H, Zhang X. Neural and Psychological Predictors of Cognitive Enhancement and Impairment from Neurostimulation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1902863. [PMID: 32099765 PMCID: PMC7029648 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201902863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Modulating the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), especially the right counterpart, shows promises in enhancing social cognitive ability. However, it is ambiguous whether the functional lateralization of TPJ determines people's responsiveness to brain stimulation. Here, this issue is investigated with an individual difference approach. Forty-five participants attended three sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) experiments and one neuroimaging session. The results support the symmetric mechanism of left and right TPJ stimulation. First, the left and right TPJ stimulation effect are comparable in the group-level analysis. Second, the individual-level analysis reveals that a less right-lateralized TPJ is associated with a higher level of responsiveness. Participants could be classified into positive responders showing cognitive enhancement and negative responders showing cognitive impairment due to stimulation. The positive responders show weaker connectivity between bilateral TPJ and the medial prefrontal cortex, which mediates the prediction of offline responsiveness by the lateralization and the social-related trait. These findings call for a better characterization and predictive models for whom tDCS should be used for, and highlight the necessity and feasibility of prestimulation screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li‐Zhuang Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and TechnologyCenter of Medical Physics and TechnologyHefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiAnhui230031China
- Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of ScienceHefeiAnhui230031China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and School of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and School of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and School of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Zhiyu Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and School of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Hongzhi Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and TechnologyCenter of Medical Physics and TechnologyHefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiAnhui230031China
- Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of ScienceHefeiAnhui230031China
| | - Zhi‐De Deng
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation UnitExperimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology BranchIntramural Research ProgramNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892‐9663USA
| | - Chuanfu Li
- Laboratory of Digital Medical ImagingMedical Imaging CenterFirst Affiliated HospitalAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiAnhui230031China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Center for Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Da‐Ren Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and School of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Roi Cohen Kadosh
- Department of Experimental PsychologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX1 3UDUK
| | - Hai Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and TechnologyCenter of Medical Physics and TechnologyHefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiAnhui230031China
- Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of ScienceHefeiAnhui230031China
| | - Xiaochu Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and School of Life SciencesUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- Center for Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- Academy of Psychology and BehaviorTianjin Normal UniversityTianjin300387China
- Hefei Medical Research Center on Alcohol AddictionAnhui Mental Health CenterHefei230022China
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39
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Wertheim J, Colzato LS, Nitsche MA, Ragni M. Enhancing spatial reasoning by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the right posterior parietal cortex. Exp Brain Res 2019; 238:181-192. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05699-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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40
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Adenzato M, Manenti R, Gobbi E, Enrici I, Rusich D, Cotelli M. Aging, sex and cognitive Theory of Mind: a transcranial direct current stimulation study. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18064. [PMID: 31792263 PMCID: PMC6889494 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54469-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by changes in cognitive abilities and a great interest is spreading among researchers about aging impact on social cognition skills, such as the Theory of Mind (ToM). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used in social cognition studies founding evidence of sex-related different effects on cognitive ToM task in a young people sample. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, we applied one active and one sham tDCS session on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during a cognitive ToM task, including both social (i.e., communicative) and nonsocial (i.e., private) intention attribution conditions, in sixty healthy aging individuals (30 males and 30 females). In half of the participants the anode was positioned over the mPFC, whereas in the other half the cathode was positioned over the mPFC. The results showed that: (i) anodal tDCS over the mPFC led to significant slower reaction times (vs. sham) for social intention attribution task only in female participants; (ii) No effects were found in both females and males during cathodal stimulation. We show for the first time sex-related differences in cognitive ToM abilities in healthy aging, extending previous findings concerning young participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Adenzato
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Rosa Manenti
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elena Gobbi
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ivan Enrici
- Department of Philosophy and Educational Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Danila Rusich
- Department of Human Science, LUMSA University, Roma, Italy
| | - Maria Cotelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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41
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The Role of the Temporoparietal Junction in Self-Other Distinction. Brain Topogr 2019; 32:943-955. [DOI: 10.1007/s10548-019-00737-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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42
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Bowling NC, Botan V, Santiesteban I, Ward J, Banissy MJ. Atypical bodily self-awareness in vicarious pain responders. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180361. [PMID: 31630646 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vicarious perception refers to the ability to co-represent the experiences of others. Prior research has shown considerable inter-individual variability in vicarious perception of pain, with some experiencing conscious sensations of pain on their own body when viewing another person in pain (conscious vicarious perception/mirror-pain synaesthesia). Self-Other Theory proposes that this conscious vicarious perception may result from impairments in self-other distinction and maintaining a coherent sense of bodily self. In support of this, individuals who experience conscious vicarious perception are more susceptible to illusions of body ownership and agency. However, little work has assessed whether trait differences in bodily self-awareness are associated with conscious vicarious pain. Here we addressed this gap by examining individual difference factors related to awareness of the body, in conscious vicarious pain responders. Increased self-reported depersonalization and interoceptive sensibility was found for conscious vicarious pain responders compared with non-responders, in addition to more internally oriented thinking (associated with lower alexithymia). There were no significant differences in trait anxiety. Results indicate that maintaining a stable sense of the bodily self may be important for vicarious perception of pain, and that vicarious perception might also be enhanced by attention towards internal bodily states. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Bridging senses: novel insights from synaesthesia'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C Bowling
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.,Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London SE14 6NW, UK
| | - Vanessa Botan
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK
| | - Idalmis Santiesteban
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Jamie Ward
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK
| | - Michael J Banissy
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London SE14 6NW, UK
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43
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Darda KM, Ramsey R. The inhibition of automatic imitation: A meta-analysis and synthesis of fMRI studies. Neuroimage 2019; 197:320-329. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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44
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Bulgarelli C, Blasi A, de Klerk CCJM, Richards JE, Hamilton A, Southgate V. Fronto-temporoparietal connectivity and self-awareness in 18-month-olds: A resting state fNIRS study. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2019; 38:100676. [PMID: 31299480 PMCID: PMC6969340 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
How and when a concept of the 'self' emerges has been the topic of much interest in developmental psychology. Self-awareness has been proposed to emerge at around 18 months, when toddlers start to show evidence of physical self-recognition. However, to what extent physical self-recognition is a valid indicator of being able to think about oneself, is debated. Research in adult cognitive neuroscience has suggested that a common network of brain regions called Default Mode Network (DMN), including the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), is recruited when we are reflecting on the self. We hypothesized that if mirror self-recognition involves self-awareness, toddlers who exhibit mirror self-recognition might show increased functional connectivity between frontal and temporoparietal regions of the brain, relative to those toddlers who do not yet show mirror self-recognition. Using fNIRS, we collected resting-state data from 18 Recognizers and 22 Non-Recognizers at 18 months of age. We found significantly stronger fronto-temporoparietal connectivity in Recognizers compared to Non-Recognizers, a finding which might support the hypothesized relationship between mirror-self recognition and self-awareness in infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bulgarelli
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK; Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, UK.
| | - Anna Blasi
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK; Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, UK
| | - Carina C J M de Klerk
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Essex, UK
| | - John E Richards
- University of South Carolina, Institute for Mind and Brain, Department of Psychology, United States
| | - Antonia Hamilton
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, UK
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45
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Causal evidence of right temporal parietal junction involvement in implicit Theory of Mind processing. Neuroimage 2019; 196:329-336. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
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46
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Saetta G, Brugger P, Schrohe H, Lenggenhager B. Putting Yourself in the Skin of In- or Out-Group Members: No Effect of Implicit Biases on Egocentric Mental Transformation. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1338. [PMID: 31297073 PMCID: PMC6606962 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that visual encoding of ethnicity of in-group/out-group members might influence empathy and sensorimotor sharing. Here, we investigated whether mental perspective taking, presumably a precursor of empathy, is also influenced by in-group/out-group perception and the implicit attitudes toward it. We used an embodied egocentric visual-perspective taking task, the full body rotation task (FBR), in which participants were asked to mentally rotate themselves into the position of dark- or light-skinned bodies. FBR was contrasted to a pure sensorimotor task, the hand laterality task (HLT), in which participants were asked to mentally rotate their hand to the posture of seen light- or dark-skinned hands, which does not require mental simulation of another person's perspective. We expected the FBR but not the HLT to be influenced by the skin color of the stimuli and by the individual implicit biases toward out-group members. Contrary to this hypothesis, we found that neither skin color nor implicit biases modulated reaction times (RTs) in either task. The data thus suggest that unlike other empathy tasks, skin color does not influence visuospatial perspective taking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Saetta
- Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Brugger
- Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuropsychology Unit, Valens Rehabilitation Centre, Valens, Switzerland
| | - Hannah Schrohe
- Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bigna Lenggenhager
- Cognitive Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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47
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de Klerk CCJM, Bulgarelli C, Hamilton A, Southgate V. Selective facial mimicry of native over foreign speakers in preverbal infants. J Exp Child Psychol 2019; 183:33-47. [PMID: 30856416 PMCID: PMC6478146 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2019.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mimicry, the spontaneous copying of others' behaviors, plays an important role in social affiliation, with adults selectively mimicking in-group members over out-group members. Despite infants' early documented sensitivity to cues to group membership, previous work suggests that it is not until 4 years of age that spontaneous mimicry is modulated by group status. Here we demonstrate that mimicry is sensitive to cues to group membership at a much earlier age if the cues presented are more relevant to infants. 11-month-old infants observed videos of facial actions (e.g., mouth opening, eyebrow raising) performed by models who either spoke the infants' native language or an unfamiliar foreign language while we measured activation of the infants' mouth and eyebrow muscle regions using electromyography to obtain an index of mimicry. We simultaneously used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying differential mimicry responses. We found that infants showed greater facial mimicry of the native speaker compared to the foreign speaker and that the left temporal parietal cortex was activated more strongly during the observation of facial actions performed by the native speaker compared to the foreign speaker. Although the exact mechanisms underlying this selective mimicry response will need to be investigated in future research, these findings provide the first demonstration of the modulation of facial mimicry by cues to group status in preverbal infants and suggest that the foundations for the role that mimicry plays in facilitating social bonds seem to be present during the first year of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina C J M de Klerk
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Essex CO4 3SQ, UK; Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK.
| | - Chiara Bulgarelli
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK; Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Antonia Hamilton
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Victoria Southgate
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, DK-1017 Copenhagen, Denmark
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48
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Wang M, Li J, Li D, Zhu C. Anodal tDCS Over the Right Temporoparietal Junction Lowers Overbidding in Contests. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:528. [PMID: 31244591 PMCID: PMC6580155 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Overbidding, which means bidding over the Nash equilibrium, is commonly observed in competitive social interactions, such as a contest or auction. Recent neuroscience studies show that the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is related to overbidding and associated with inferring the intentions of others during competitive interactions. The present study investigates the neural underpinnings of overbidding and how the rTPJ impacts bidding behavior by using tDCS to modulate the activation of the rTPJ. Participants completed a two-person proportional prize contest, in which overbidding was frequently observed and each participant's share of the prize was equal to the individual's expenditure divided by the aggregated expenditure. We observed a significant tDCS effect, i.e., participants' average expenditure and overbidding rate were significantly reduced in the anodal stimulation compared with the cathodal and sham stimulation. Possible explanations include that enhanced activity in the rTPJ via the anodal stimulation increased the accuracy of a participant's inference of the strategies of others, or a participant's concern for others, and thus helped the participant bid optimally. Our findings provide evidence supporting that the activation of the rTPJ in contests affects overbidding and bidding strategy, and further confirm that the rTPJ is involved in the inference of mental states in a competition context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minda Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Reinhard Selten Laboratory, China Academy of Corporate Governance, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianbiao Li
- Reinhard Selten Laboratory, China Academy of Corporate Governance, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.,School of Economics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Economics and Management, Binhai College, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dahui Li
- Labovitz School of Business & Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, United States
| | - Chengkang Zhu
- Reinhard Selten Laboratory, China Academy of Corporate Governance, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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49
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Donaldson PH, Kirkovski M, Rinehart NJ, Enticott PG. A double-blind HD-tDCS/EEG study examining right temporoparietal junction involvement in facial emotion processing. Soc Neurosci 2019; 14:681-696. [PMID: 30668274 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2019.1572648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Prior studies have demonstrated that aspects of social cognition can be modulated via temporoparietal junction (TPJ) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). However, this technique lacks focality and electrophysiological effects or correlates are rarely examined. The present study investigated whether anodal and/or cathodal high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) would influence facial emotion processing performance relative to sham stimulation, and whether task performance changes were related to neurophysiological changes. Participants completed a facial emotion attribution tasks before and after rTPJ HD-tDCS, with event-related potentials (ERP) recorded during task performance. Anodal rTPJ HD-tDCS improved facial emotion processing performance for static depictions of fear (but not surprise). Stimulation condition influenced P300 latency, and also influenced the relationship between behavioural and electrophysiological (ERP) outcomes in several circumstances, findings which both support and challenge anodal-excitation/cathodal-inhibition accounts of tDCS effects. Results suggest that rTPJ anodal HD-tDCS can influence facial emotion recognition (i.e., affective mentalizing), and elucidate the nature and distribution of underlying neurophysiological processes. Stimulation effects, however, might depend on the intensity and salience/valence (negativity/threat) of the emotion, and these behavioural effects may not relate directly or simply to the ERPs assessed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Donaldson
- Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin University , Geelong , Australia.,Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University , Geelong , Australia
| | - Melissa Kirkovski
- Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin University , Geelong , Australia.,Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University , Geelong , Australia
| | - Nicole J Rinehart
- Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin University , Geelong , Australia
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Deakin University , Geelong , Australia.,Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University , Geelong , Australia
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50
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Right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex involvement in proactive and reactive aggression. Neuroreport 2018; 29:1509-1515. [DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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