Activation of the default network during a theory of mind task predicts individual differences in agreeableness and social cognitive ability

Udochi, Aisha Linnea; Blain, Scott D.; Sassenberg, Tyler A.; Burton, Philip; Medrano, Leroy; DeYoung, Colin G.

doi:10.3758/s13415-021-00955-0

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 149 publications

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“…Indeed, our SEMs suggest that individual differences in brain activity during gaze processing were related to individual differences in social cognition. This is consistent with previous studies linking brain activity to individual differences in social functioning-with such work spanning task-related activation 48 , functional connectivity 36,45,49,84 , effective connectivity 10 , and brain structure [85][86][87][88][89][90] (see the supplement for extended discussion).…”

Section: Reinforcing and Extending Previous Social Cognition Researchsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Theories regarding the social brain and default network-paired with the present findings-also connect well with neuroimaging research from personality and individual difference perspectives. For instance, individual differences in social cognitive ability have been linked to strength of neural response to social stimuli in the default network-particularly in the dmPFC 48 -and to functional connectivity between default network subsystems 45 . Likewise, selfreport measures related to social functioning have been linked to individual differences in various properties of the default network and its constituent nodes, including task-based activation 48 , functional connectivity 36,45,49,84 , structural connectivity 85,87 , and regional volume 86,88,90 .…”

Section: Supplemental Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, individual differences in social cognitive ability have been linked to strength of neural response to social stimuli in the default network-particularly in the dmPFC 48 -and to functional connectivity between default network subsystems 45 . Likewise, selfreport measures related to social functioning have been linked to individual differences in various properties of the default network and its constituent nodes, including task-based activation 48 , functional connectivity 36,45,49,84 , structural connectivity 85,87 , and regional volume 86,88,90 . Nonetheless, as reflected in the current results, the default network is not the only important neural substrate of social cognition, as regions such as the insula and ACCcanonically more associated with the salience or ventral attention network-and sensorimotor regions are also important in social processing 25,32,33,132 .…”

Section: Supplemental Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, several general population studies have linked socioemotional functioning to gaze perception [42][43][44] , as well as various other individual social cognition tasks [45][46][47] . In terms of neurophysiology, several general population studies have shown that individual differences in social cognition are related to neural activity-particularly within the default network-during social information processing and at rest 45,48,49 . Gaze perception abilities have also been linked to broader socioemotional outcomes in SZ 8 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, a social cognition latent variable can be modeled as shared variance of scores across tests of gaze perception, emotion recognition, mentalizing, and empathy. SEM allows us to eliminate unsystematic error variance, facilitating more accurate estimates of variance and covariance for our constructs of interest 48,50,[53][54][55][56][57] . Latent variable modeling also can be used with fMRI data, where it can be used to examine how behavioral constructs like social cognition are associated with neural factors representing shared variance of brain activity across multiple regions recruited in various processes 45,48,[58][59][60][61][62] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neurobehavioral Indices of Gaze Perception are Associated with Social Cognition across Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls

Blain¹,

Taylor²,

Rutherford³

et al. 2022

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Gaze perception is a basic building block of social cognition, which is impaired in schizophrenia and contributes to functional outcomes. However, few studies have investigated its neural underpinnings and relation to broader social cognitive abilities. We address this gap. We recruited 77 schizophrenia patients and 71 controls, who completed measures of social cognition (e.g., emotion recognition, mentalizing). During fMRI, participants (N = 116) completed a gaze task, where they judged whether face images with varying gaze angles were self-directed or averted; as a control condition, participants identified stimulus gender. Brain activation estimates were extracted based on 1) gaze-perception vs. gender-identification, 2) parametric modulation by perception of stimuli as self-directed vs. averted, and 3) parametric modulation by stimulus gaze angle. Latent neural factors were computed to predict social cognition performance and diagnosis. Preferential activation to gaze perception (vs. gender identification) was observed throughout default, salience, and sensory networks, which was modulated by stimulus gaze angle and perception of stimuli as self-directed vs. averted. Despite clear social cognitive deficits, patients showed no significant differences in brain activation. Four of five neural factors predicted social cognition performance, effects remained when controlling for group, and effects did not differ by group. Findings provide evidence of default and salience network nodes—such as dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, superior temporal sulcus, and insula—as neural substrates of gaze perception, which were associated with individual differences in social cognition. Findings are discussed in the context of clinical heterogeneity and dimensional psychopathology.

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Section: Reinforcing and Extending Previous Social Cognition Researchsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Supplemental Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Supplemental Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Neurobehavioral Indices of Gaze Perception are Associated with Social Cognition across Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls

Blain¹,

Taylor²,

Rutherford³

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

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Agreeableness modulates mental state decoding: Electrophysiological evidence

Pisanu,

Arbula,

Rumiati

2024

Human Brain Mapping

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Agreeableness is one of the five personality traits which is associated with theory of mind (ToM) abilities. One of the critical processes involved in ToM is the decoding of emotional cues. In the present study, we investigated whether this process is modulated by agreeableness using electroencephalography (EEG) while taking into account task complexity and sex differences that are expected to moderate the relationship between emotional decoding and agreeableness. This approach allowed us to identify at which stage of the neural processing agreeableness kicks in, in order to distinguish the impact on early, perceptual processes from slower, inferential processing. Two tasks were employed and submitted to 62 participants during EEG recording: the reading the mind in the eyes (RME) task, requiring the decoding of complex mental states from eye expressions, and the biological (e)motion task, involving the perception of basic emotional actions through point‐light body stimuli. Event‐related potential (ERP) results showed a significant correlation between agreeableness and the contrast for emotional and non‐emotional trials in a late time window only during the RME task. Specifically, higher levels of agreeableness were associated with a deeper neural processing of emotional versus non‐emotional trials within the whole and male samples. In contrast, the modulation in females was negligible. The source analysis highlighted that this ERP‐agreeableness association engages the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Our findings expand previous research on personality and social processing and confirm that sex modulates this relationship.

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The relationship between the default mode network and the theory of mind network as revealed by psychedelics – A meta-analysis

Soares,

Gonzalo,

Castelhano

et al. 2023

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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Activation of the default network during a theory of mind task predicts individual differences in agreeableness and social cognitive ability

Cited by 12 publications

References 149 publications

Neurobehavioral Indices of Gaze Perception are Associated with Social Cognition across Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls

Neurobehavioral Indices of Gaze Perception are Associated with Social Cognition across Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy Controls

Agreeableness modulates mental state decoding: Electrophysiological evidence

The relationship between the default mode network and the theory of mind network as revealed by psychedelics – A meta-analysis

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