Effect of Interpersonal Distance on Neural Basis of Self- and Other Representation: Evidence from the oFRN Component

We cannot see the minds of others, yet people often spontaneously interpret how they are viewed by other people (i.e., meta-perceptions) and often in a self-flattering manner. Very little is known about the neural associations of meta-perceptions, but a likely candidate is the ventromedial pFC (VMPFC). VMPFC has been associated with both self- and other-perception as well as motivated self-perception. Does this function extend to meta-perceptions? The current study examined neural activity while participants made meta-perceptive interpretations in various social scenarios. A drift-diffusion model was used to test whether the VMPFC is associated with two processes involved in interpreting meta-perceptions in a self-flattering manner: the extent to which the interpretation process involves the preferential accumulation of evidence in favor of a self-flattering interpretation versus the extent to which the interpretation process begins with an expectation that favors a self-flattering outcome. Increased VMPFC activity was associated with the extent to which people preferentially accumulate information when interpreting meta-perceptions under ambiguous conditions and marginally associated with self-flattering meta-perceptions. Together, the present findings illuminate the neural underpinnings of a social cognitive process that has received little attention to date: how we make meaning of others' minds when we think those minds are pointed at us.

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Neural signatures of model-free learning when avoiding harm to self and other

10.1101/718106 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Patricia L. Lockwood ◽

Miriam Klein-Flügge ◽

Ayat Abdurahman ◽

Molly J. Crockett

Keyword(s):

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Prediction Errors ◽

Learning Mechanisms ◽

Neural Basis ◽

Self And Other ◽

Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽

Model Free ◽

Moral Learning ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽

Moral Behaviour

AbstractMoral behaviour requires learning how our actions help or harm others. Theoretical accounts of learning propose a key division between ‘model-free’ algorithms that efficiently cache outcome values in actions and ‘model-based’ algorithms that prospectively map actions to outcomes, a distinction that may be critical for moral learning. Here, we tested the engagement of these learning mechanisms and their neural basis as participants learned to avoid painful electric shocks for themselves and a stranger. We found that model-free learning was prioritized when avoiding harm to others compared to oneself. Model-free prediction errors for others relative to self were tracked in the thalamus/caudate at the time of the outcome. At the time of choice, a signature of model-free moral learning was associated with responses in subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), and resisting this model-free influence was predicted by stronger connectivity between sgACC and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Finally, multiple behavioural and neural correlates of model-free moral learning varied with individual differences in moral judgment. Our findings suggest moral learning favours efficiency over flexibility and is underpinned by specific neural mechanisms.

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Neural Basis of Self and Other Representation in Autism: An fMRI Study of Self-Face Recognition

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0003526 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (10) ◽

pp. e3526 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Lucina Q. Uddin ◽

Mari S. Davies ◽

Ashley A. Scott ◽

Eran Zaidel ◽

Susan Y. Bookheimer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Face Recognition ◽

Neural Basis ◽

Self And Other ◽

Fmri Study

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Face masks reduce interpersonal distance in virtual reality

10.31234/osf.io/n2dtj ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Leon O. H. Kroczek ◽

Stephanie Boehme ◽

Andreas Mühlberger

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Risk Behavior ◽

Viral Transmission ◽

Virtual Agents ◽

Interpersonal Distance ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Self And Other ◽

Compensation Behavior ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Situational Constraints

During the Covid-19 pandemic several behavioral measures have been implemented to reduce viral transmission. While these measures reduce the risk of infections, they may also increase risk behavior. Here, we experimentally investigate the influence of face masks on physical distancing. Eighty-four participants with or without face masks passed virtual agents in a supermarket environment to reach a target while interpersonal distance was recorded. Agents differed in wearing face masks and age (young, elderly). In addition, situational constraints varied in whether keeping a distance of 1.5 m required an effortful detour or not. Wearing face masks (both self and other) reduced physical distancing. This reduction was most prominent when keeping the recommended distance was effortful, suggesting an influence of situational constraints. Similarly, increased distances to elderly were only observed when keeping a recommended distance was effortless. These findings highlight contextual constraints in compensation behavior and have important implications for safety policies.

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Neural Basis of Motor Control

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America ◽

10.1016/s1047-9651(18)30549-7 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 615-622 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Thomas Thach

Keyword(s):

Motor Control ◽

Neural Basis

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Neural Basis of Semantic Memory

10.1017/cbo9780511544965 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Keyword(s):

Semantic Memory ◽

Neural Basis

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Emotional Reactivity to Visual Content as Revealed by ERP Component Clustering

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000145 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 135-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Miroslaw Wyczesany ◽

Szczepan J. Grzybowski ◽

Jan Kaiser

Keyword(s):

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Affective State ◽

Occipital Lobe ◽

Stimulus Onset ◽

Emotional States ◽

Neural Basis ◽

Temporoparietal Junction ◽

The Right ◽

The Impact

Abstract. In the study, the neural basis of emotional reactivity was investigated. Reactivity was operationalized as the impact of emotional pictures on the self-reported ongoing affective state. It was used to divide the subjects into high- and low-responders groups. Independent sources of brain activity were identified, localized with the DIPFIT method, and clustered across subjects to analyse the visual evoked potentials to affective pictures. Four of the identified clusters revealed effects of reactivity. The earliest two started about 120 ms from the stimulus onset and were located in the occipital lobe and the right temporoparietal junction. Another two with a latency of 200 ms were found in the orbitofrontal and the right dorsolateral cortices. Additionally, differences in pre-stimulus alpha level over the visual cortex were observed between the groups. The attentional modulation of perceptual processes is proposed as an early source of emotional reactivity, which forms an automatic mechanism of affective control. The role of top-down processes in affective appraisal and, finally, the experience of ongoing emotional states is also discussed.

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