Social Cognition and Its Anatomy

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function associated with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the context of the default network?

Regulating emotional responses to social situations

Evaluating self-referential information (correct)

Processing visual and auditory inputs

Coordinating motor responses to external stimuli

Which statement about the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is most accurate?

It is mainly active during visual perception tasks.

It helps differentiate between positive and negative self-referential outcomes. (correct)

It is responsible for motor control and coordination.

It is primarily involved in processing sensory stimuli.

How do patients with orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) lesions typically behave in social situations?

They display unrealistic positive views of themselves. (correct)

They engage in appropriate social behaviors based on context.

They prefer solitude over social interactions.

They tend to be overly critical of their social performance.

In the context of self-judgment, what occurs when individuals evaluate their performance from a third-person perspective?

They are likely to adjust their judgments to be more accurate. Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis explains the increased activity of the resting state brain network while at rest?

Sentinel hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

Which describes the activation of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) during eye gaze observation tasks?

Active during both congruent and incongruent eye gazes. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key finding regarding the rTPJ in individuals with ASD during mental judgment tasks?

It displayed less responsiveness than in typical individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) in social cognition?

It is involved in processing actions related to theory of mind. Signup and view all the answers

What did the mirror neuron study reveal about typical children compared to ASD children?

ASD children activated neurons only when the final action was performed. Signup and view all the answers

How does the default network function in individuals with ASD during self-referential tasks?

It is always off, leading to indistinguishable resting and active state brain functions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the mPFC in social interactions according to the content?

It is critical for judgment and perception of others. Signup and view all the answers

Which brain area is notably activated when utilizing theory of mind to understand others' intentions?

Temporoparietal Junction (TPJ) Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of lesions to the OFC in patients such as Phineas Gage?

Deterioration of personality, leading to aggressive behavior. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the False Belief Task, what does a failure to understand another's perspective indicate?

Lack of Theory of Mind (ToM). Signup and view all the answers

What does the deactivation of the mPFC indicate during judgment tasks?

Focus on ordering tasks rather than impression formation. Signup and view all the answers

What brain region is primarily associated with self-referential processing?

Medial frontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the self-reference effect?

We recall self-related traits more vividly than those of others. Signup and view all the answers

What does less deactivation in the medial prefrontal cortex indicate during self-referential tasks?

Greater importance of self-related information processing Signup and view all the answers

What does the case of patient DB illustrate regarding self-knowledge?

Self-knowledge can exist independently of semantic knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

The resting state network is primarily active during what kind of mental processes?

Introspection and daydreaming Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social cognition involves processing information about oneself and others.
This process is not uniform: individual and cultural differences affect it.
Emotional factors play a significant role in social cognition.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC):
- Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dIPFC)
- Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vIPFC)
- Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC):
  - Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)
- Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)
- Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)
Automatic Nervous System (ANS)
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis
Superior Temporal Sulcus (STS)
Fusiform Face Area (FFA)
Temporoparietal Junction (TPJ)
Medial Parietal Cortex

Socially isolating rats exhibits changes in PFC function, synaptic plasticity, and increased aggression in adulthood.
Lack of social play in rats during a specific developmental period (21-42 days postnatal) leads to impaired decision-making abilities in adulthood.

Self-Reference Effect

Remembering information related to oneself is more efficient than remembering information about others.
Medial frontal cortex is highly involved in processing self-referential information.

Theory of Mind

The ability to understand the mental states of others.
This process involves the TPJ (temporal parietal junction).
Failure to engage in this task is associated with difficulties in social context.

Judging the Self

Positive self-judgments involve less activity in the ventral anterior cingulate cortex (VACC).
Negative self-judgments activate the VACC
VACC impairment is found in depressed patients, suggesting a link between emotional regulation and this brain region.

OFC (Orbitofrontal Cortex)

The OFC is involved in social emotion and knowledge.
Damage to the OFC can result in "utilization behavior" (inappropriate social behaviours).
Patients struggle to judge the behaviours of others, struggle with theory of mind tasks, and struggle with self-perception.

Prefrontal and OFC Damage

Damage to these areas impacts the ability to plan for the future, control impulses, and display pro-social behaviours.

Perception of Others

The mPFC (medial prefrontal cortex) shows greater deactivation when thinking about others than when making inferences about oneself.
There are different brain areas involved in judging self and judging others, leading to distinct activation patterns.

Empathy and Pain of Others

Brain activity related to perceiving one's own pain and another's pain is often similar.
A shared pain and empathy network exist, suggesting an overlap in how the brain processes both situations.
Empathy is linked to the activation of mirror neurons in the brain and mirror neuron activity correlates with experience of emotions.
When exposed to expressions of pain from others or when empathizing, individuals often activate similar regions as when experiencing personal pain.

Empathy and Perceived Pain

The anterior insula and the nucleus accumbens are associated with experiencing empathy and the desire for revenge.

Default Mode Network

The default mode network plays a significant role in self-referential processing and social cognition.
Orbitofrontal cortex is involved in the default mode network and is essential for behaving within social norms.

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Description

This quiz explores the key concepts of social cognition, including how we process information about ourselves and others. It covers the anatomical structures involved in social cognition and the effects of social isolation on behavior. Test your understanding of the brain's role in social interactions and emotional factors.