The inhibition of automatic imitation: A meta-analysis and synthesis of fMRI studies

Darda, Kohinoor Monish; Ramsey, Richard

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.059

Cited by 42 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…Methodological limitations of earlier studies called into question whether social cues thought to regulate automatic imitation could be actually affecting more domain-general mechanisms of response inhibition, such as spatial compatibility 18 . In line with this idea, a recent meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies found consistent evidence for the involvement of domain-general brain networks (e.g., dorsolateral frontoparietal cortex) in the control of imitative responses, and only limited support for the engagement of domain-specific systems related to social cognition, such as the theory of mind network 48 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Conditional effects of gaze on automatic imitation: the role of autistic traits

Trilla

Wnendt

Dziobek

2020

Sci Rep

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Establishing direct gaze has been shown to enhance the tendency to automatically imitate the other person’s actions, an effect that seems to be reduced in autism. Most previous studies, however, used experimental tasks that may have confounded the measurement of automatic imitation with spatial compatibility effects. This calls into question whether gaze cues regulate automatic imitation, or instead affect domain-general processes of response inhibition. Using a task that disentangled imitative from spatial compatibility effects, the current study re-examined the role of autistic traits on the modulation of automatic imitation by direct and averted gaze cues. While our results do not provide evidence for an overall significant influence of gaze on neither automatic imitation nor spatial compatibility, autistic traits were predictive of a reduced inhibition of imitative behaviour following averted gaze. Nonetheless, exploratory analyses suggested that the observed modulation by autistic traits may actually be better explained by the effects of concomitant social anxiety symptoms. In addition, the ethnicity of the imitated agent was identified as another potential modulator of the gaze effects on automatic imitation. Overall, our findings highlight the contextual nature of automatic imitation, but call for a reconsideration of the role of gaze on imitative behaviour.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Conditional effects of gaze on automatic imitation: the role of autistic traits

Trilla

Wnendt

Dziobek

2020

Sci Rep

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“…Initial neuroimaging experiment relying on such paradigms identified the anterior fronto-medial cortex (aFMC, Brass et al 2001;2005; and the TPJ (Brass et al 2005;Marsh, Bird & Catmur, 2016) as the brain substrate for the control of automatic imitative response tendencies. The brain network associated with the control of automatic imitation has however been questioned in a recent meta-analysis (Darda & Ramsey, 2019). These authors reported consistent evidence supporting that the control of automatic imitation is guided by brain regions associated with domain-general abilities allowing to deal with multiple demands (e.g.…”

Section: Self-other Distinction At the Action Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of the Temporoparietal Junction in Self-Other Distinction

Quesque

Braß

2019

Brain Topogr

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Being able to discriminate between what originates from ourselves and what originates from others is critical for efficient interactions with our social environment. However, it remains an open question whether self-other distinction is a domain-general mechanism that is involved in various social-cognitive functions or whether specific 'self-other distinction mechanisms' exist for each of these functions. On the neural level, there is evidence that self-other distinction is related to a specific brain region at the border of the superior temporal and inferior parietal cortex, the temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Demonstrating that the TPJ plays a role in social processes that require self-other distinction would support the idea of a domain-general mechanism of self-other distinction. In the present paper, we review evidence coming from clinical observations, neuroimaging experiments and a meta-analysis indicating the involvement of the TPJ in various cognitive operations requiring self-other distinction. At the perceptual level, we discuss the human ability to identify one's own body and to distinguish it from others. At the action level, we review research on the human ability to experience agency and the control of imitative response tendencies. Finally, at the mental-state level, we discuss the ability to attribute mental states to others. Based on this integrative review, we suggest that the TPJ, and in particular its dorsal part, supports a domain general ability to enhance task-relevant representations when self-related and other-related representations are in conflict. Finally, this conception allows us to propose a unifying architecture for the emergence of numerous sociocognitive abilities.

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“…Moreover, if spatially distinct portions of temporoparietal junction show different effects that relate to social and attentional functions (Scholz, Triantafyllou, Whitfield-Gabrieli, Brown, & Saxe, 2009), then it seems even more important to functionally distinguish between these subdivisions when making specific claims about this area (Krall et al, 2015). Further, the largest fMRI work to date that used a multi-experiment, high-power approach (Darda, Butler, & Ramsey, 2018), as well as a meta-analysis of all related fMRI work (Darda & Ramsey, 2019), shows very limited evidence for specialised control processes in the context of imitation inhibition, but compelling evidence for generalised control. Such evidence contrasts with the initial fMRI research on imitation inhibition that used much smaller sample sizes, and argued for a socially-specific form of control in right temporoparietal junction (Brass et al, 2001;2003;Spengler et al, 2009).…”

Section: Compared Against Current Empirical Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

RamseyWard_social_priority_mapping

Ramsey¹,

Ward²

2019

Preprint

Self Cite

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Whether on a first-date or during a team briefing at work, our daily lives are inundated with social information and in recent years research has begun studying the neural mechanisms that support social information processing. We argue that the focus of social neuroscience research to date has been skewed towards specialised processes at the expense of general processing mechanisms with a consequence that unrealistic expectations have been set for what specialised processes alone can achieve. We propose that for social neuroscience to develop into a more mature research programme, it needs to embrace hybrid models that integrate specialised person representations with domain-general solutions, such as prioritisation and selection, which operate across all classes of information (both social and non-social). To illustrate our central arguments, we first describe then evaluate a hybrid model of information processing during social interactions that: 1) generates novel and falsifiable predictions compared to existing models; 2) is predicated on a wealth of neurobiological evidence spanning many decades, methods and species; 3) requires a superior standard of evidence to substantiate domain-specific mechanisms of social behaviour, and; 4) transforms expectations of what types of neural mechanisms may contribute to social information processing in both typical and atypical populations.

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The inhibition of automatic imitation: A meta-analysis and synthesis of fMRI studies

Abstract: complex organisational structures of control, which may involve contributions from multiple cognitive systems.

Cited by 42 publications

References 92 publications

Conditional effects of gaze on automatic imitation: the role of autistic traits

Conditional effects of gaze on automatic imitation: the role of autistic traits

The Role of the Temporoparietal Junction in Self-Other Distinction

RamseyWard_social_priority_mapping

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