Background: Social cognitive processes such as emotion perception and empathy allow humans to navigate complex social landscapes and are associated with specific neural systems. In particular, theory of mind (ToM), which refers to our ability to decipher the mental states of others, is related to the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction, which include portions of the default network. Both social cognition and the default network have been linked to the personality trait Agreeableness. We hypothesized that default network activity during a ToM task would positively predict social cognitive abilities and Agreeableness.Method: In a 3T fMRI scanner, participants (N = 1050) completed a ToM task in which they observed triangles displaying random or social (i.e., human-like) movement. Participants also completed self-report measures of Agreeableness and tests of intelligence and social cognitive ability. Average blood oxygen level dependent responses were calculated for default network regions associated with social cognition, and structural equation modeling was used to test associations of personality and task performance with activation in those brain regions. Results: Default network activation in the dorsal medial subsystem was greater for social vs. random animations. Default network activation in response to social animations predicted better performance across social cognitive tasks and higher levels of Agreeableness.Conclusions: Strength of neural response to social stimuli in the default network, and particularly its dorsal medial subsystem, may facilitate effective social processing and have downstream effects on social interactions. We discuss theoretical and methodological implications of this work for social and personality neuroscience.
The influence of mothers’ involvement on young children’s social cognitive ability through the lens of attachment, joint attention, and theory of mind
