scholarly journals The Interplay Between Affective Processing and Sense of Agency During Action Regulation: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Kaiser ◽  
Madalina Buciuman ◽  
Sandra Gigl ◽  
Antje Gentsch ◽  
Simone Schütz-Bosbach
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Learning ◽  
Sense Of Agency ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Scientific Model ◽  
Preliminary Model ◽  
Current Task ◽  
Mechanistic Basis ◽  
Affective Information ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior ◽  
Review Current

Sense of agency is the feeling of being in control of one's actions and their perceivable effects. Most previous research identified cognitive or sensory determinants of agency experience. However, it has been proposed that sense of agency is also bound to the processing of affective information. For example, during goal-directed actions or instrumental learning we often rely on positive feedback (e.g., rewards) or negative feedback (e.g., error messages) to determine our level of control over the current task. Nevertheless, we still lack a scientific model which adequately explains the relation between affective processing and sense of agency. In this article, we review current empirical findings on how affective information modulates agency experience, and, conversely, how sense of agency changes the processing of affective action outcomes. Furthermore, we discuss in how far agency-related changes in affective processing might influence the ability to enact cognitive control and action regulation during goal-directed behavior. A preliminary model is presented for describing the interplay between sense of agency, affective processing, and action regulation. We propose that affective processing could play a role in mediating the influence between subjective sense of agency and the objective ability to regulate one's behavior. Thus, determining the interrelation between affective processing and sense of agency will help us to understand the potential mechanistic basis of agency experience, as well as its functional significance for goal-directed behavior.

scholarly journals Parallel representation of context and multiple context-dependent values in ventro-medial prefrontal cortex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nir Moneta ◽  
Mona M. Garvert ◽  
Hauke R. Heekeren ◽  
Nicolas W Schuck
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Competing Values ◽  
Task Goal ◽  
Neural Representations ◽  
Multiple Context ◽  
Co Activation ◽  
Current Task ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior ◽  
Multiple Task ◽  
Influence Behavior

Value representations in ventromedial prefrontal-cortex (vmPFC) are known to guide decisions. But how preferable available options are depends on one's current task. Goal-directed behavior, which involves changing between different task-contexts, therefore requires to know how valuable the same options will be in different contexts. We tested whether multiple task-dependent values influence behavior and asked if they are integrated into a single value representation or are co-represented in parallel within vmPFC signals. Thirty five participants alternated between tasks in which stimulus color or motion predicted rewards. Our results provide behavioral and neural evidence for co-activation of both contextually-relevant and -irrelevant values, and suggest a link between multivariate neural representations and the influence of the irrelevant context and its associated value on behavior. Importantly, current task context could be decoded from the same region, and better context-decodability was associated with stronger (relevant-)value representations. Evidence for choice conflicts was found only in the motor cortex, where the competing values are likely resolved into action.

Behavioural phenotype of noonan syndrome in adulthood

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 820-820
Author(s):  
E. Wingbermuehle ◽  
J.I.M. Egger ◽  
I. van der Burgt ◽  
W.M.A. Verhoeven
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Neuropsychological Assessment ◽  
Noonan Syndrome ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Heart Defects ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Behavioural Phenotype ◽  
Affective Information Processing ◽  
Affective Information

IntroductionNoonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder with an estimated incidence of 1:1,500 live births and is characterized by short stature, facial dysmorphisms and congenital heart defects. At present, mutations in seven different genes have been identified. NS is associated with impaired affective processing and subsequently increased levels of anxiety.ObjectivesNeuropsychological investigation of social cognition.AimsThe use of neuropsychological assessment as a tool for studying the contribution of cognition and behaviour to the expression of the Noonan phenotype.MethodsForty adult NS-patients and a matched group of healthy controls underwent extensive neuropsychological assessment. Next to the standard cognitive domains (i.e. intelligence, attention, memory, executive functioning) several tests for social cognition were included to explore affective information processing. Correlation analysis and repeated measures MANCOVA were used.ResultsMarked problems were found in the recognition of own and other's emotions, as well as in the ability to verbally express feelings. Alexithymia was significantly more prevalent in the NS-group. In addition, NS-patients displayed more mood and anxiety complaints than controls. A tendency was found to social desirability and agreeableness.ConclusionsImpairments in social cognition are common elements of NS behavioural phenotype in adults. With neuropsychological assessment, psychosocial immaturity, amenable traits and alexithymia could be identified. The latter increases the vulnerability for the development of mood and anxiety disorders.

scholarly journals Assessment Of Psychological Advertising Along Consumer Rights And The Rule On Section 5 Of The Federal Trade Commission, Part 1 Of 2: Unfairness Doctrine

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-170
Author(s):  
Michelle Alarcon ◽  
Joseph Ha
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Free Choice ◽  
Federal Trade Commission ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Consumer Rights ◽  
Legal Implications ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
Affective Information Processing ◽  
Affective Information ◽  
Brain Processing

Over a century of research and empirical findings have linked advertising with consumer choice based on affective information processing, which many researchers emphasized as unconscious brain processing. This paper examines a variety of empirical findings and historical data on psychological or affective processing which provides evidence that psychological advertising affects consumer behavior and choice. Thereafter, building on existing research and literature, we analyze the legal implications of psychological advertising to stimulate affective or unconscious decisions that impairs rational choice and thus harmful. Based on this argument, we analyze the current federal consumer protection law regulating advertising under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”) which bans unfair and deceptive practices, then present rationales for change followed by a framework for revision. The objectives of such change is to ensure that this regulation upholds consumer rights and provide a consumercentric process that respects free choice. One outcome of this proposal will be a ban on advertising practices that utilize psychological stimuli. The framework will focus on expanding the “unfairness” doctrine of the FTC Act. The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) states that “unfair acts or practices injure both consumers and competitors because consumers who would otherwise have selected a competitor’s product are wrongly diverted by the unfair act or practice,” thus an effective customer-centric regulation could postulate a healthier economy.

scholarly journals Pattern classification predicts individuals’ responses to affective stimuli

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Yuen ◽  
Stephen Johnston ◽  
Federico Martino ◽  
Bettina Sorger ◽  
Elia Formisano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Classification ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Affective Stimuli ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Affective Information

AbstractSince the successful demonstration of “brain reading” of fMRI BOLD signals using multivoxel pattern classification (MVPA) techniques, the neuroimaging community has made vigorous attempts to exploit the technique in order to identify the signature patterns of brain activities associated with different cognitive processes or mental states. In the current study, we tested whether the valence and arousal dimensions of the affective information could be used to successfully predict individual’s active affective states. Using a whole-brain MVPA approach, together with feature elimination procedures, we are able to discriminate between brain activation patterns associated with the processing of positive or negative valence and cross validate the discriminant function with an independent data set. Arousal information, on the other hand, failed to provide such discriminating power. With an independent sample, we test further whether the MVPA identified brain network could be used for inter-individual classification. Although the inter-subject classification success was only marginal, we found correlations with individual differences in affective processing. We discuss the implications of our findings for future attempts to classify patients based on their responses to affective stimuli.

Striatopallidal Pathway Distinctly Modulates Goal-Directed Valuation and Acquisition of Instrumental Behavior via Striatopallidal Output Projections

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 1366-1381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan He ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
Zhilan Pu ◽  
Mozi Chen ◽  
Ying Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Condition ◽  
Instrumental Learning ◽  
Instrumental Behavior ◽  
Confounding Effect ◽  
Reward Delivery ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Activation Conditions ◽  
Motor Effects ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior ◽  
Dorsomedial Striatum

Abstract The striatopallidal pathway is specialized for control of motor and motivational behaviors, but its causal role in striatal control of instrumental learning remains undefined (partly due to the confounding motor effects). Here, we leveraged the transient and “time-locked” optogenetic manipulations with the reward delivery to minimize motor confounding effect, to better define the striatopallidal control of instrumental behaviors. Optogenetic (Arch) silencing of the striatopallidal pathway in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) and dorsolateral striatum (DLS) promoted goal-directed and habitual behaviors, respectively, without affecting acquisition of instrumental behaviors, indicating striatopallidal pathway suppression of instrumental behaviors under physiological condition. Conversely, striatopallidal pathway activation mainly affected the acquisition of instrumental behaviors with the acquisition suppression achieved by either optogenetic (ChR2) or chemicogenetic (hM3q) activation, by strong (10 mW, but not weak 1 mW) optogenetic activation, by the time-locked (but not random) optogenetic activation with the reward and by the DMS (but not DLS) striatopallidal pathway. Lastly, striatopallidal pathway modulated instrumental behaviors through striatopallidal output projections into the external globus pallidus (GPe) since optogenetic activation of the striatopallidal pathway in the DMS and of the striatopallidal output projections in the GPe similarly suppressed goal-directed behavior. Thus, the striatopallidal pathway confers distinctive and inhibitory controls of animal’s sensitivity to goal-directed valuation and acquisition of instrumental behaviors under normal and over-activation conditions, through the output projections into GPe.

Translation Research for the Rehabilitation of Left Spatial Neglect and Associated Disorders of Attention in Stroke Patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkiruka Arene ◽  
Argye E. Hillis
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Spatial Neglect ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Translation Research ◽  
Unilateral Neglect ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Sound Theoretical Basis ◽  
Review Current

Abstract The syndrome of unilateral neglect, typified by a lateralized attention bias and neglect of contralateral space, is an important cause of morbidity and disability after a stroke. In this review, we discuss the challenges that face researchers attempting to elucidate the mechanisms and effectiveness of rehabilitation treatments. The neglect syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder, and it is not clear which of its symptoms cause ongoing disability. We review current methods of neglect assessment and propose logical approaches to selecting treatments, while acknowledging that further study is still needed before some of these approaches can be translated into routine clinical use. We conclude with systems-level suggestions for hypothesis development that would hopefully form a sound theoretical basis for future approaches to the assessment and treatment of neglect.

Pediatric Benign Vocal Fold Lesions: A Team Approach

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geralyn Harvey Woodnorth ◽  
Roger C. Nuss
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Benign Vocal Fold Lesions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Team Evaluation ◽  
Surgical Treatments ◽  
Review Current ◽  
Vocal Fold Nodules

Abstract Many children with dysphonia present with benign vocal fold lesions, including bilateral vocal fold nodules, cysts, vocal fold varices, and scarring. Evaluation and treatment of these children are best undertaken in a thoughtful and coordinated manner involving both the speech-language pathologist and the otolaryngologist. The goals of this article are (a) to describe the team evaluation process based on a “whole system” approach; (b) to discuss etiological factors and diagnosis; and (c) to review current medical, behavioral, and surgical treatments for children with different types of dysphonia.

Why People With High Alexithymia Make More Utilitarian Judgments

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Xiangyi Zhang ◽  
Zhihui Wu ◽  
Shenglan Li ◽  
Ji Lai ◽  
Meng Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Moral Judgments ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Process Dissociation ◽  
The Difference

Abstract. Although recent studies have investigated the effect of alexithymia on moral judgments, such an effect remains elusive. Furthermore, moral judgments have been conflated with the moral inclinations underlying those judgments in previous studies. Using a process dissociation approach to independently quantify the strength of utilitarian and deontological inclinations, the present study investigated the effect of alexithymia on moral judgments. We found that deontological inclinations were significantly lower in the high alexithymia group than in the low alexithymia group, whereas the difference in the utilitarian inclinations between the two groups was nonsignificant. Furthermore, empathic concern and deontological inclinations mediated the association between alexithymia and conventional relative judgments (i.e., more utilitarian judgments over deontological judgments), showing that people with high alexithymia have low empathic concern, which, in turn, decreases deontological inclinations and contributes to conventional relative judgments. These findings underscore the importance of empathy and deontological inclinations in moral judgments and indicate that individuals with high alexithymia make more utilitarian judgments over deontological judgments possibly due to a deficit in affective processing.

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