Human Sociality and Cognition Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which component of social intelligence involves knowing about oneself?

Social cognition

Mentalizing

Self-awareness (correct)

Cultural transmission

What is the primary benefit of grooming behavior among non-human primates (NHPs)?

Promotion of social bonding (correct)

Increase in physical strength

Enhancement of cognitive skills

Reduction of group size

The anterior cingulate cortex is mainly involved in which of the following functions?

Social norm enforcement

Causality judgment

Reciprocation understanding

Conflict monitoring (correct)

What is meant by 'mentalizing' in the context of social intelligence?

Inferring the mental states of others Signup and view all the answers

Humans are estimated to effectively manage approximately how many relationships?

150 Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the brain is associated with self-referential processing?

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of social behavior does the frontal lobe help maintain?

Social behavior norms Signup and view all the answers

What skill is NOT mentioned as necessary for solving problems in the social domain?

Discriminating quantity Signup and view all the answers

What effect does damage to the orbital frontal cortex (OFC) have on social behavior?

Results in inappropriate social behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is associated with impaired social development during critical postnatal periods?

Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse Signup and view all the answers

What consequences arise from social isolation?

Increased aggression and anxiety Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant predictor of depression over time?

Perceived social isolation Signup and view all the answers

Which brain region is heavily involved in self-referential processing?

Medial prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the Default Mode Network (DMN)?

Involves regions such as the ventral medial prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

How does damage to the OFC affect a person's self-perception?

Causes individuals to exaggerate their positive characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What function does the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) serve in predicting mental states?

Simulates future emotional responses Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of high activity in the anterior cingulate cortex during self-appraisal?

Increased attention on positive self-characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) activity correlate with?

Effective social cognition preparation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Human Sociality and the Brain

Humans are social creatures, relying on communication, learning, and teaching for survival.
"Cultural transmission" and cooperation are key aspects of human social behavior.
A sense of fairness and morality are also crucial elements.

Self-awareness (introspection): Knowing oneself, as well as feedback on social performance.
Mentalizing: Understanding the mental states of others, interpreting their behaviors and mindsets.
Grooming in non-human primates (NHPs): Promotes social bonding, confers social status, often males groom females, and releases endorphins. Understanding reciprocation, competition, and status are essential.

Safety in numbers deters predators. Studies suggest the human brain is best suited to managing ~150 relationships.
Chimpanzee troops average ~100 individuals.
Eusociality, living across generations, allows for division of labor and altruism.
Beginning of "camps" for Homo Erectus (~1 million years ago)

Social factors become increasingly salient and valuable during complex cognitive processing.
Complex social cognition involves judging attractiveness, social status, and understanding social norms, requiring mentalizing, processing emotional expressions. and abstraction.
Social cognition networks are necessary due to processing complexity.
Networks monitor the self, infer other's mental states, interpret emotions, make decisions, and judge values.

Anterior cingulate cortex: Motivation, decision-making, cost-benefit analysis, conflict and error monitoring.
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC): Self-referential processing, monitoring subjective feelings, and predicting others' mental states.
Posterior cingulate cortex: Prediction and planning.
Medial parietal cortex: Socio-emotional processing.

Orbital frontal cortex (OFC) damage can lead to inappropriate social behaviors (e.g., hugging strangers, discussing personal topics inappropriately).
Abuse (physical, sexual, and psychological), as well as neglect, can impair social development, especially during critical periods of postnatal development.
Social isolation leads to changes in prefrontal cortex function, impaired synaptic plasticity, decreased dopamine and increased serotonin signaling, and increased aggression, fear, and anxiety.

Even perceived isolation negatively impacts mental health.
Self-reported isolation is linked to depression, reduced IQ over time, and increased Alzheimer's risk, even after controlling for social group size, activity, and marital status.
Loneliness is related to decreased glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity and increased Default Mode Network (DMN) activity (dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, retrosplenial cortex).

Self-Reference Effect

We better remember information related to ourselves. The self-reference effect may stem from enhanced knowledge of the self.
Self-referential processing involves the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC).
Degree of MPFC activation correlates with the ability to recall information related to the self.

Sense of Self & Default Mode Network (DMN)

The DMN consists of: ventral medial PFC, dorsal medial PFC, posterior cingulate cortex, retrosplenial cortex, temporal parietal junction, and inferior parietal lobule.
The DMN may help in self-referential processing, thinking about future actions, evaluating current conditions, and self-reflective thought
DMN shows increased activity when gauging beliefs and intentions of others.

Inflated Self-Perception

Most people have an inflated view of themselves.
A large percentage of high school students and professors rate themselves above average in leadership and work ability.
Inflated self-perception correlates with more likely victory in a lottery and less likelihood of a divorce.

Anterior cingulate cortex is active during positive self-appraisals.
Ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC) deactivates less when evaluating positive self-traits.

OFC Damage & Self-Perception

Damage to the orbital frontal cortex impairs accurate self-perception.
Patients with OFC damage exaggerate their positive qualities, discuss inappropriate topics, are proud of their performance and more embarrassed when seeing themselves in a mirror.
The OFC is crucial for accurate self-perception and understanding social norms.

Predicting Future Mental States

The vmPFC plays a crucial role in imagining future mental states in novel situations, predicting other's mental states in similar settings, mentally rehearsing social situations, and simulating others' minds.
vmPFC damage impairs the ability to predict one's future preferences.
vmPFC activation increases when someone weighs the enjoyment of something now vs. later (e.g., $20 today vs. $23 next week).

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between human sociality, cognition, and the brain. This quiz covers concepts such as cultural transmission, mentalizing, and the dynamics of social group size. Test your understanding of how social behavior and cognition shape our interactions and society.