scholarly journals Social neuroscience in psychiatry: unravelling the neural mechanisms of social dysfunction

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1145-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.-K. J. Fett ◽  
S. S. Shergill ◽  
L. Krabbendam
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Social Neuroscience ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Lives ◽  
Psychiatric Illnesses ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
Neuroscience Research

Social neuroscience is a flourishing, interdisciplinary field that investigates the underlying biological processes of social cognition and behaviour. The recent application of social neuroscience to psychiatric research advances our understanding of various psychiatric illnesses that are characterized by impairments in social cognition and social functioning. In addition, the upcoming line of social neuroscience research provides new techniques to design and evaluate treatment interventions that are aimed at improving patients’ social lives. This review provides a contemporary overview of social neuroscience in psychiatry. We draw together the major findings about the neural mechanisms of social cognitive processes directed at understanding others and social interactions in psychiatric illnesses and discuss their implications for future research and clinical practice.

Social by Default: Characterizing the Social Functions of the Resting Brain

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan L. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Social Neuroscience ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Default Network ◽  
Social Brain ◽  
Social Functions ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
The Social

Social-neuroscience research has identified a set of medial frontoparietal brain regions that reliably engage during social cognition. At the same time, cognitive-neuroscience research has shown that these regions comprise part of the default network, so named because they reliably activate during mental breaks by default. Although the anatomical similarity between the social brain and the default brain is well documented, why this overlap exists remains a mystery. Does the tendency to engage these regions by default during rest have particular social functions, and if so, what might these be? Here, it is suggested that the default network performs two critical social functions during rest: social priming and social consolidation. These constructs will be defined, recently published empirical findings that support them will be reviewed, and directions for future research on the topic will be proposed.

scholarly journals Adolescent Social Cognitive Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Guazzelli Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cultural Considerations ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Social Cognitive Processes

During adolescence, our bodies, brains, and behaviors undergo marked developmental changes. Adolescents often become increasingly aware of their social worlds and use this stage of development to develop skills to help them navigate this changing landscape. Up until recently, an overwhelming majority of research on social cognition–specifically on understanding the mental states of others–has focused on childhood. In this chapter, I demonstrate that adolescence is an important developmental period for the refinement and sophistication of social cognitive processes that began developing during childhood. I also discuss the development of more advanced and distinct social cognitive processes. Additionally, I review the available literature on the developmental trajectories of advanced social cognition across adolescence–including individual differences, cultural considerations, and implications for adolescent health and wellbeing. Finally, I describe how future research may begin to address current knowledge gaps on this topic.

From clinical cases to clinical research: Neurocognition and social cognition in schizophrenia

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S372-S372
Author(s):  
I. Gurovich ◽  
O. Papsuev ◽  
A. Shmukler ◽  
L. Movina ◽  
Y. Storozhakova
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neurocognitive Deficits ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Prodromal Phase ◽  
Clinical Cases

IntroductionNeurocognition and social cognition are the core deficits influencing social outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. These deficits are present in prodromal phase and throughout the illness, in first-degree relatives and are considered in the framework of neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative models.MethodFour clinical cases with patients reflecting different cognitive profiles were chosen to demonstrate heterogeneity of cognitive biases and their influence on the social function en vivo. The patients have undergone a number of neurocognitive and social cognitive measures.ResultsIn these four patients, we would like to highlight the dissociation of neurocognitive deficits, clinical manifestations and social functioning. Social cognitive measures revealed heterogeneity of biases in different domains. As a result of our observation, we can hypothesize that better social functioning was achieved by patients with better abilities to discriminate negative emotions and states of mind in others.ConclusionDespite certain limitations of case-report studies, it is hard not to point out heterogeneity and incoherence of social and neurocognition. We assume that intact domains of Processing of Emotions and Theory of Mind predispose to better social functioning, while it's hard to trace this connection to neurocognition. This result needs to be challenged on large samples in future research, concerning emotionality in Theory of Mind and capacity for empathy and its’ role in social functioning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Stories and the Promotion of Social Cognition

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond A. Mar
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Real World ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
Lines Of Evidence ◽  
Neuropsychological Investigations

Engaging with fictional stories and the characters within them might help us better understand our real-world peers. Because stories are about characters and their interactions, understanding stories might help us to exercise our social cognitive abilities. Correlational studies with children and adults, experimental research, and neuropsychological investigations have all helped develop our understanding of how stories relate to social cognition. However, there remain a number of limitations to the current evidence, some puzzling results, and several unanswered questions that should inspire future research. This review traces multiple lines of evidence tying stories to social cognition and raises numerous critical questions for the field.

scholarly journals Gambling and Social Cognition: a Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-555
Author(s):  
Elodie Hurel ◽  
Gaëlle Challet-Bouju ◽  
Nicolas Bukowski ◽  
Emeline Eyzop ◽  
Marie Grall-Bronnec
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Social Information Processing ◽  
Gambling Disorder ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Remediation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cognitive Remediation Therapy ◽  
Current State ◽  
Neuropsychological Tasks ◽  
Review Current

Abstract Purpose of Review The aim of this article was to review current research regarding social cognition (SC) in gambling disorder (GD), to (i) compile and synthetize the current state of existing literature on this topic, and (ii) propose cognitive remediation therapy approaches focused on SC for clinicians. Recent Findings It is well known that disordered gamblers show impairment regarding non-social cognitive functions such as inhibition, attention, and decision-making. Furthermore, patients with substance use disorders also present certain deficits regarding social information processing which are difficult to differentiate from the intrinsic toxic effects linked to drugs or alcohol consumption. Summary To date, relatively little research has been undertaken to explore SC in gambling disorder (GD) with neuropsychological tasks. Preliminary results suggest impaired non-verbal emotion processing, but only one study has directly measured SC in GD. As a consequence, future research on this framework should propose diverse measures of SC, while controlling for other factors such as personality traits and subtypes of disordered gamblers.

scholarly journals Toward a second-person neuroscience

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonhard Schilbach ◽  
Bert Timmermans ◽  
Vasudevi Reddy ◽  
Alan Costall ◽  
Gary Bente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Social Neuroscience ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Other Minds ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Theoretical Conception ◽  
Social Encounters ◽  
Remarkable Progress ◽  
Made In

AbstractIn spite of the remarkable progress made in the burgeoning field of social neuroscience, the neural mechanisms that underlie social encounters are only beginning to be studied and could – paradoxically – be seen as representing the “dark matter” of social neuroscience. Recent conceptual and empirical developments consistently indicate the need for investigations that allow the study of real-time social encounters in a truly interactive manner. This suggestion is based on the premise that social cognition is fundamentally different when we are in interaction with others rather than merely observing them. In this article, we outline the theoretical conception of a second-person approach to other minds and review evidence from neuroimaging, psychophysiological studies, and related fields to argue for the development of a second-person neuroscience, which will help neuroscience to really “go social”; this may also be relevant for our understanding of psychiatric disorders construed as disorders of social cognition.

Acute Tryptophan Depletion. Part II: Clinical Effects and Implications

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 565-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline J. Bell ◽  
Sean D. Hood ◽  
David J. Nutt
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Tryptophan Depletion ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Cognitive Effects ◽  
Medline Search ◽  
Psychiatric Illnesses

Objective: This is the second of two articles reviewing the modern dietary technique of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), a method of transiently reducing central serotonin levels in both healthy volunteers and clinical populations. This article details the clinical studies to date and discusses the implications of this research methodology. Method: The authors present a review of clinical ATD studies collated from a MEDLINE search, unpublished communications and the authors' considerable experience with this paradigm. Results: Following from the initial use of ATD in subjects with depressive illness, studies of anxiety disorders and other psychiatric illnesses have been reported. Sleep, aggressive and cognitive effects are also active areas of research and are reviewed here. Conclusions: Acute tryptophan depletion remains a useful psychiatric research tool. The findings from the clinical studies reviewed here are summarized and implications for future research detailed.

Battery of scales for comprehensive assessment of social cognition, neurocognition and motivation in patients with schizophrenia

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S581-S582
Author(s):  
M. Minyaycheva ◽  
K. Kiselnikova ◽  
O. Papsuev
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Attributional Style ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Comprehensive Assessment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Rehabilitation Centre ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Brief Assessment ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionThere has been a special interest in roles of neurocognition, social cognition and motivation impairments in patients with schizophrenia and possible approaches to remediating these deficits. Clinical practice lacks a comprehensive tool to measure those deficits.ObjectiveTo build a comprehensive assessment battery to measure neurocognitive, social cognitive and motivational deficits in order to form targets for remediation programs and assess their efficiency.AimsTranslation and adaptation for Russian speaking subjects (if needed) of identified assessments upon authors’ agreement.MethodsBy consensus decision of 5 professionals in the field of clinical psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience a number of assessments were selected with the following criteria: 1. Relevance to domain assessed, 2. Appropriateness for Russian social context, 3. Reference rates in scientific papers, 4. Time consumed by each assessment.ResultsSix measures reflecting main domains (neurocognition, Theory of Mind, attributional style, social perception, emotion processing, motivation) were selected: 1. BACS (Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia) (R.S. Keefe et al., 2008), 2. Hinting Task (R. Corcoran 1995), 3. AIHQ (Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire) (D.R. Combs et al., 2007), 4. RAD–15 (Relationships Across Domains) (M. Sergi et al., 2004), 5. Ekman–60 (P. Ekman et al., 1976), 6. AES (Apathy Evaluation Scale) (R.S. Marin et al., 1991).ConclusionsThe battery built encompasses all targeted domains of neurocognition, social cognition and motivation. Time consumed by the battery estimates 130 ± 15 minutes, which is appropriate for clinical practice in a rehabilitation centre. Future research will focus on patients profiling and shaping of rehabilitation programs accordingly.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Social Cognitive Development in Emerging Adulthood

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lapsley ◽  
Ryan D. Woodbury
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Negotiation Strategies ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Stage Development ◽  
Dyadic Attachment ◽  
Stage Theories

This chapter focuses on social cognitive constructs that emphasize self–other constructions in emerging adulthood. The authors first take up classic social cognitive stage theories, including the development of perspective-taking, interpersonal understanding, and interpersonal negotiation strategies and the development of self-understanding. They note that the upper boundary of structural stage development stretches well into emerging adulthood: the period from 18 to 25 sees a mélange of social cognitive developmental capacities with significant overlap across stages. The authors then introduce individuation and dyadic attachment as new categories of social cognition. Both constructs describe the recalibration of self–other perspectives that will be crucial for navigating the challenges of emerging adulthood. They conclude with an examination of recent neuroscience research on the social cognitive brain, with a particular focus on perspective-taking and mentalizing, and they draw implications for future research.

scholarly journals RamseyWard_social_priority_mapping

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Ramsey ◽  
Robert Ward
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Social Information Processing ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Social Neuroscience ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Team Briefing

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document