Social Neuroscience and Self-Awareness Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does social neuroscience primarily focus on?

The relationship between brain activity and social behavior (correct)

The effects of cognitive biases on perception

The influence of social contexts on individual thoughts

The biological basis of mental processes

Which concept describes the interaction of biological and environmental factors in human behavior?

Emotional intelligence

Nature vs. Nurture debate (correct)

Cognitive dissonance

Social cognition

What does the Self-Referential Stimuli concept refer to?

Stimuli that evoke a strong emotional response

External stimuli that affect social behavior

Stimuli perceived as being related to oneself (correct)

Memories that are triggered by external cues

Which of the following best describes the 'Mirror Test'?

A method for evaluating self-awareness in humans and animals Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Theory of Mind' refer to?

The capacity to understand the mental states of others Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary critique of the Mirror Test regarding non-visual species?

It fails to account for non-visual senses Signup and view all the answers

Which brain region is thought to be crucial for self-awareness?

Prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'Agency' refer to in the context of self-awareness?

The perception of being the cause of one's thoughts and actions Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Modularity Theories' suggest about Theory of Mind?

It exists as an innate module specialized in the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ)?

It plays a central role in the reorientation of attention. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes emotional empathy?

It involves shared emotional responses to another's feelings. Signup and view all the answers

Which brain areas are primarily involved in cognitive empathy?

VMPFC and DMPFC Signup and view all the answers

What does the Social Pain/Physical Pain Overlap Theory (SPOT) propose?

Neural mechanisms for social and physical pain are overlapping. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Negative-State Release Model suggest about altruism?

It states that people help others to alleviate their own distress. Signup and view all the answers

Which game theory concept illustrates that people's decisions may not always be rational?

Prisoner's Dilemma Signup and view all the answers

How do mirror neurons function in predicting the actions or thoughts of others?

They are activated by both the actions of others and by planning one's own actions. Signup and view all the answers

Which brain region is primarily responsible for processing the unpleasant emotional response to pain?

Anterior cingulate cortex Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the activation of the right ventral prefrontal cortex (RVPFC) have on pain regulation?

It signifies efforts to manage and cope with social distress. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of psychopathy in relation to empathy?

Lack of emotional recognition and disregard for others’ well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in social pain?

Processes affective responses to social exclusion Signup and view all the answers

Which type of empathy requires cognitive effort and is linked to executive functions?

Cognitive empathy Signup and view all the answers

What does the Simulation Theories concept emphasize in understanding others?

The use of mirror neurons Signup and view all the answers

In the context of altruism, what does kin selection refer to?

Helping relatives more readily than unrelated individuals Signup and view all the answers

What brain areas are activated during both the joy of giving and other rewarding experiences?

VTA and dorsal/ventral striatum Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant finding from the Cyberball task related to social exclusion?

Activity in the ACC associated with emotional distress Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best encapsulates the concept of emotional contagion?

Automatic emotional responses triggered by others Signup and view all the answers

In the context of mirror neuron activity, which statement is accurate?

They serve both observational and execution functions Signup and view all the answers

What psychological model explains that people help others mainly to alleviate their own distress?

Negative-state release model Signup and view all the answers

Which brain region is linked to processing the unpleasant emotional response to physical pain?

Anterior cingulate cortex Signup and view all the answers

Which levels of analysis interact within the social cognitive neuroscience prism?

Biological, cultural, psychological, and social Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does the False-belief task evaluate in children?

Their understanding that others can have different beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant critique of the Mirror Test in assessing self-awareness?

It relies heavily on visual cues, ignoring non-visual senses Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT involved in the concept of self-awareness?

Imitating the behavior of others Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the nature vs. nurture debate, what do researchers generally agree on?

Behavior results from the interaction of biological and environmental factors Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of self-awareness is associated with monitoring one's thoughts and actions?

Agency Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Reductionism' imply in the context of social neuroscience?

Explaining complex phenomena using basic components Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the role of the prefrontal cortex concerning self-awareness?

It was historically thought to be critical for self-awareness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social Neuroscience: Studies the relationship between brain activity and social behavior.
Social Psychology: Examines how thoughts and feelings are affected by others' presence.
Cognitive Neuroscience: Investigates the brain's role in mental processes.
Nature vs. Nurture: Debate on whether environment or biology shapes us; the interaction of both is accepted as the most accurate.
Reductionism: Researchers avoid reducing complex phenomena to simple biological components.
Social Cognitive Neuroscience Prism: Illustrates the interplay of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors in social behavior.

Self-Awareness

Self-Awareness: Ability to reflect on one's own traits, beliefs, abilities, and attitudes.
Mirror Test: Used to assess self-awareness in animals (elephants, dolphins, fish); controversial due to potential inaccuracies for species relying on non-visual senses.
Olfactory Mirror Test: Proposed for dogs, suggesting a potential for self-awareness.
Prefrontal Cortex: Believed to be crucial for self-awareness.
Self-Referential Stimuli: Stimuli relating to oneself.
Representation: Organizing self-related information (traits, skills).
Evaluation: Determining internal vs. external origins of stimuli (e.g., inner voice vs. external voice).
Monitoring: Detecting errors, making choices, overriding habits.
Integration: Combining traits, goals, values, and memories into a unified self-concept.
Agency: Feeling of being the cause of one's thoughts and actions.
Body Ownership: Perception of one's own body.

Theory of Mind and Empathy

Theory of Mind: Ability to understand others' mental states (emotions, beliefs, intentions).
False-Belief Task: Measures a child's grasp that others can have different beliefs.
Modularity Theories: Propose an innate, specialized module in the brain for theory of mind (TPJ - Temporoparietal Junction). The right TPJ is more deeply involved than the left one.
Temporoparietal Junction (TPJ): Play a key role in social and cognitive functions, attention reorientation, empathy, and agency.
Simulation Theories: Suggest we understand others by mentally putting ourselves in their shoes.
Mirror Neurons: Activated by observing others' actions (externally); also active when planning our own actions (internally). Four steps involve execution/observation of actions for prediction, mirror neuron activation via action observation, externally triggered motor neuron activity does not cause action in observer, and beliefs/intentions are attributed to person observed
**Executive Theory:**Theory of mind relies on the ability to suppress own thoughts/actions.
Empathy: Ability to understand and share another's feelings.
Emotional Empathy: Automatic emotional responses to others' emotions (emotional contagion); perception-action model involved (when we perceive one's emotional state, its actions and their representations related to the emotions are triggered in your brain).
Cognitive Empathy: Adopting another's perspective to infer their emotional state (cognitive effort needed).
Brain Areas Involved (Emotional Empathy): Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), inferior parietal lobule.
Brain Areas Involved (Cognitive Empathy): VMPFC/DMPFC, medial temporal lobe, superior temporal sulcus, and temporal poles.

Components of Physical Pain

Perceptual Dimension (Physical Pain): Detection of the pain (Insula + Somatosensory cortex).
Affective Dimension (Physical Pain): Unpleasant emotional response to pain (ACC).

Pain Regulation

Regulation of Pain: Strategies individuals use to cope with pain (RVPFC).

Social Exclusion: Lack of social interaction.
Cyberball Task: fMRI study showing social exclusion activates areas related to the affective dimension of physical pain (ACC), similar to those involved in physical pain regulation (RVPFC).
SPOT Theory (Social Pain Overlap Theory): Neural overlap between social and physical pain.

Altruism and its Neural Basis

Altruism: Helping behavior for the good of others.
Kin Selection: Tendency to help relatives.
Reciprocal Altruism: Helping others with the expectation of future return.
Negative-State Relief Model: Helping others to reduce our own feelings of distress.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Helping only when the costs are lower than benefits.
Joy of Giving: Similar brain areas activated as for other rewards (e.g., VTA, dorsal/ventral striatum).

Psychopaths and Neural Deficits

Psychopaths: Lack empathy, remorse, guilt.
Amygdala: Often shows smaller size, damage or lower activity.

Cooperation, Trust, and Game Theory

Game Theory: Mathematical approach used to explain animal and human behavior in social/political contexts.
Prisoner's Dilemma: Game that illustrates how cooperation and selfishness intersect. (defecting: prioritizes individual gain, cooperating: mutual benefit)
Trust Game: Game illustrating trust through investment.

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Description

Test your knowledge on social neuroscience and the concept of self-awareness. This quiz covers key terms and theories on how brain activity relates to social behavior, cognitive processes, and the intricacies of self-reflection. Explore the debates surrounding nature vs. nurture and reductionism in psychology.