"Throughout the project, three studies were carried out. In the first study, a meta-analysis of brain activation data reported from a total of 4,207 participants was performed, sampling across a wide variety of social tasks (Schurz et al., 2020b). Results show a continuum of brain activation across different task types and mental states (see Figure 1, from Schurz et al., 2020b, p.8). A novel observation of this meta-analysis is that brain systems for processing cognitive versus affective mental states frequently co-activate. This pattern of brain activation is linked to ecologically more valid forms of social cognition.
In the second study, the fellow further characterized co-activation between brain systems linked to cognitive and affective processing. A systematic review of brain activation and connectivity studies on social cognition was carried out. Two main types of cortical interactions were found. First, inhibitory interactions which are reflecting separation and functionally specialized processing. Second, excitatory interactions, which reflect integration and more flexible social processing.
In the third study, a large-scale multimodal brain imaging data set (n=~40,000) from the UK-Biobank population cohort was analyzed (Schurz et al., under review). Brain measures were related to participant's indicators of real-life social interactions. Results of the analysis show a consistent link between social contact and grey-matter morphology, as well as intrinsic functional connectivity of the brain. For both neural measures, relations to daily social interaction levels were found in the brain's salience and limbic systems. These systems are generally implicated in externally oriented processing anchored in the ""here-and-now"". They also are significant building-blocks of more affective processes involved in empathy necessary to feel into other people.
Finally, part of the project is ongoing work, which will continue after the end of the MSCA runtime. A computational model will be employed to differentiate components of belief representation and Theory of Mind in the brain.
References:
Schurz, M., Maliske, L., & Kanske, P. (2020a). Cross-network interactions in social cognition: A review of findings on task related brain activation and connectivity. Cortex, 130, 142-157.
Schurz, M., Radua, J., Tholen, M. G., Maliske, L., Margulies, D. S., Mars, R. B., ... & Kanske, P. (2020b). Toward a hierarchical model of social cognition: A neuroimaging meta-analysis and integrative review of empathy and theory of mind. Psychological Bulletin. Advance online publication.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000303(se abrirá en una nueva ventana)Schurz, M., Uddin, L.Q. Kanske, P., Lamm, C., Sallet, J., Bernhardt, B., Mars, R.B. & Bzdok, D. (under review). Variability in brain structure and function reflects lack of peer support."
