Article
Neurosciences
Yuanchen Wang, Ruien Wang, Haiyan Wu
Summary: Self-other distinction is crucial for human interaction. Studies have found that oxytocin (OT) can enhance the perceptual boundary between self and other, particularly in distinguishing adult faces. However, little is known about the effect of OT on self-other perception and its neural basis. This study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled design to investigate the impact of OT on self-face perception at both behavioral and neural levels. The results showed that the OT group demonstrated improved performance in recognizing self-faces, particularly in the context of adult faces, with increased activity in visual areas and the inferior frontal gyrus. These findings suggest that OT can enhance self-other distinction and have potential effects on the left hemisphere self-network.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nafiseh Atapour, Katrina H. Worthy, Marcello G. P. Rosa
Summary: The study reports a previously unknown form of thalamocortical plasticity observed in marmoset monkeys following lesions of the primary visual area (V1). The specificity of LGN projections to the cortex is disrupted after long-term V1 lesions, leading to neurochemical and structural remodeling of the circuit. This has potential implications for understanding residual visual abilities after V1 lesions and could inform rehabilitation strategies for cortical blindness.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Bina Kakusa, Yuhao Huang, Daniel A. N. Barbosa, Austin Feng, Sandra Gattas, Rajat Shivacharan, Eric B. Lee, Fiene M. Kuijper, Sabir Saluja, Jonathon J. Parker, Kai J. Miller, Corey Keller, Cara Bohon, Casey H. Halpern
Summary: The study utilized subthalamic field potential recordings to investigate the role of the subthalamic area in human feeding behaviors, revealing distinct neural activity patterns for different tastes, which may be related to appetite and feeding control mechanisms.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Pyasik, Alice Mado Proverbio, Lorenzo Pia
Summary: This article investigates the impact of virtual embodiment on implicit racial bias and finds that virtual embodiment can reduce behavioral inclinations towards implicit racial bias, but has no effect on the neurophysiological index of its cognitive component.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Celine De Meulemeester, Benedicte Lowyck, Patrick Luyten
Summary: Studies suggest that individuals with borderline personality disorder have impairments in maintaining a differentiated sense of self and others, possibly due to deficits in multisensory integration and the ability to switch between self and other representations based on task demands. Furthermore, disruptions in infant-caregiver synchrony during early development may play a role in the development of these impairments.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Or Yizhar, Zohar Tal, Amir Amedi
Summary: The perceptual function of the Extrastriate Body Area (EBA) develops independently of visual experience, while its action-related function depends on visual experience. Congenital blindness alters EBA's connectivity pattern, with decreased functional connectivity with sensorimotor cortices and maintained connectivity with perception-related visual occipital cortices.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Thomas Decramer, Elsie Premereur, Qi Zhu, Wim Van Paesschen, Johannes van Loon, Wim Vanduffel, Jessica Taubert, Peter Janssen, Tom Theys
Summary: The study showed that single neurons in the human visual cortex exhibit selective activity for faces, suggesting the importance of neural mechanisms in human face recognition. This provides crucial experimental evidence linking imaging studies in humans and invasive studies in animal models.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Irene Puig-Parnau, Soleil Garcia-Brito, Laia Vila-Soles, Andrea Riberas, Laura Aldavert-Vera, Pilar Segura-Torres, Elisabet Kadar, Gemma Huguet
Summary: Curative or fully effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are currently unavailable. Electrical stimulation of deep brain areas is proposed as a therapeutic approach. Previous research shows that intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) targeting the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) improves learning and memory in rats with memory impairment. Based on this, MFB could be a promising target for AD treatment.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Siew Kei Kho, David R. T. Keeble, Hoo Keat Wong, Alejandro J. Estudillo
Summary: The functional role of the occipital face area (OFA) and the fusiform face area (FFA) in face recognition is still inconclusive. This study used multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to further examine their roles. Results showed that FFA stimulation enhanced facial feature recognition, while OFA stimulation had no effect on either facial feature or whole face recognition.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Ryan D. Webler, Desmond J. Oathes, Sanne J. H. van Rooij, Jonathan C. Gewirtz, Ziad Nahas, Shmuel M. Lissek, Alik S. Widge
Summary: Laboratory threat extinction and exposure-based therapy both involve repeated, safe confrontation with previously threatening stimuli. However, efforts to improve exposure outcomes using rodent extinction techniques have largely failed due to differences between rodent and human neurobiology. This review proposes a comprehensive pre-clinical human research agenda to overcome these failures, using connectivity guided depolarizing brain stimulation methods and dual threat reconsolidation-extinction paradigms to map extinction relevant circuits and inform optimal integration with exposure-based therapy.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Arijit Chakraborty, Tiffany T. Tran, Andrew E. Silva, Deborah Giaschi, Benjamin Thompson
Summary: Lower level motion processing is crucial for multiple object tracking (MOT), with evidence suggesting that minor disruption of MT+ function alone can lead to deficits in MOT performance.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jaime Caballero-Insaurriaga, Jose A. Pineda-Pardo, Ignacio Obeso, Antonio Oliviero, Guglielmo Foffani
Summary: This study combined transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) with resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) to investigate corticostriatal activity and found that tSMS can noninvasively modulate corticostriatal activity in humans. The results showed that the supplementary motor area (SMA) is the main region with functional connectivity to the striatum, and tSMS can modulate local activity in the SMA, adjacent sensorimotor cortex, and motor striatum. The findings also indicated that the tSMS-induced modulation of striatal activity can be primarily explained by a change in the shared activity between the modulated motor cortical areas and the motor striatum. These results suggest that corticostriatal activity can be targeted, monitored, and modulated noninvasively in humans.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Daniel Kroneberg, Bassam Al-Fatly, Tanja Schmitz-Huebsch, Florin Gandor, Doreen Gruber, Georg Ebersbach, Andreas Horn, Andrea A. Kuehn
Summary: This study investigates the temporal dynamics and clinical effects of an overnight unilateral withdrawal of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on gait disturbances. The results show that cessation of stimulation leads to improvement in gait performance and helps identify stimulation-induced gait disturbances.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Khira El Bouragui, Chrystel Besche-Richard, Mandy Rossignol
Summary: Perspective taking is the ability to adopt others' viewpoints, with self-other distinction and self-consciousness being key components influencing its quality. Empirical testing of this theoretical modeling could help develop therapeutic techniques for empathic deficits.
CANADIAN PSYCHOLOGY-PSYCHOLOGIE CANADIENNE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giovanni Hernandez, Willemieke M. Kouwenhoven, Emmanuelle Poirier, Karim Lebied, Daniel Levesque, Pierre-Paul Rompre
Summary: The present study found that GluN2C is the most abundant subunit of NMDA receptors expressed in the VTA, and about 50% of neurons expressing TH also co-localize with the Grin2c transcript. Down-regulation of GluN2C protein subunit significantly reduced brain stimulation reward, while pharmacological alteration of VTA NMDA receptors enhanced it, but only in rats that received the nonactive RNA sequence.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Roy Dings, Albert Newen
Summary: Episodic memories are not simply re-activated stored experiences, but rather the result of an intense construction process influenced by a narrative self.
REVIEW OF PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Philosophy
Julia Wolf, Sabrina Coninx, Albert Newen
Summary: Theories of social understanding have recently moved away from the idea that only one epistemic strategy, such as theory-based inference or simulation, constitutes our ability to understand others. Empirical observations support pluralistic accounts, arguing that humans rely on a variety of epistemic strategies. This study aims to clarify the role of mindreading in this pluralistic framework and explore the relationship between different epistemic strategies. The researchers argue that mindreading is a core strategy in human social life and provide an explanation of how it relates to other strategies.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Julia Espeloeer, Julia Proft, Christine M. Falter-Wagner, Kai Vogeley
Summary: Both accessing and staying in the labor market are very challenging for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who do not have intellectual disabilities. Despite a higher level of education, these individuals have a significantly higher unemployment rate compared to the general population, possibly due to autism-specific interpersonal difficulties. These findings highlight the importance of developing specific employment support activities for individuals with ASD as well as raising awareness.
EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Mitchel Stokkermans, Teodoro Solis-Escalante, Michael X. Cohen, Vivian Weerdesteyn
Summary: Stepping is a common strategy for recovering postural stability and maintaining balance. This study investigated the role of cortical midfrontal theta dynamics in balance monitoring during different standing postures. The results showed that theta power was modulated by postural threat and perturbation intensity. Understanding cortical mechanisms of balance control is crucial for studying balance impairments related to aging and neurological conditions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David H. V. Vogel, Mathis Jording, Carolin Esser, Amelie Conrad, Peter H. Weiss, Kai Vogeley
Summary: Differences in predictive processing are considered as one of the prime candidates for mechanisms underlying different symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated the influence of top-down social information on action event related temporal binding (TB) through time estimation tasks. The results demonstrated a reduced hyperbinding in individuals with ASD compared to the control group, suggesting a decreased predictive processing during social interaction, which may stem from differences in mentalizing processes in ASD.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Carola Bloch, Shivakumar Viswanathan, Ralf Tepest, Mathis Jording, Christine M. Falter-Wagner, Kai Vogeley
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between social and non-social behaviors in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and finds that individuals with ASD demonstrate differentiated strategies in behavior compared to typically-developed individuals. The results highlight the individual-centered nature of domain-specific behaviors in ASD, providing evidence against a general synchronization deficit and emphasizing the importance of individualized developmental heterogeneity in acquiring these behaviors.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Francesco Cangemi, Martine Grice, Alicia Janz, Valeria Lucarini, Malin Spaniol, Kai Vogeley
Summary: This study examines how non-content speech activity records can effectively profile the behavior of patients with schizophrenia. By analyzing conversations between patients and therapists, the researchers found that patient-specific profiles can be generated based on the duration of speech and silence, and these findings are consistent with independent phenomenological assessments.
LANGUAGE RESOURCES AND EVALUATION
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Vignesh Muralidharan, Adam R. Aron, Michael X. Cohen, Robert Schmidt
Summary: Midfrontal theta increases when conflicts are successfully resolved. Its temporal nature as a transient oscillation or event has been investigated using advanced spatiotemporal techniques. Single-trial analyses reveal that theta events can be categorized into distinct modes based on their timing in relation to task events, indicating their involvement in conflict-related processing and error correction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marius Markmann, Melanie Lenz, Oliver Hoeffken, Agne Steponaviciute, Martin Bruene, Martin Tegenthoff, Hubert R. Dinse, Albert Newen
Summary: Through hypnosis suggestions, semantic content can instantly and systematically alter spatial discrimination of tactile perception, indicating that this change is a result of modified perceptual processes, rather than simply altered judgment based on perception.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mitchel Stokkermans, Teodoro Solis-Escalante, Michael X. Cohen, Vivian Weerdesteyn
Summary: This study investigated the cortico-muscular coupling (CMC) between the cerebral cortex and leg muscles during reactive stepping tasks. The results showed a significant coupling between the cortex and leg muscles during the balance response, but higher levels of CMC did not facilitate leg-specific muscle activity. These findings are important for understanding the underlying mechanisms of balance control impairments.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Simon Wehrle, Martine Grice, Kai Vogeley
Summary: We analyzed the use of filled pauses in conversations between autistic and non-autistic adults and found no significant differences in the rate and lexical type of filled pauses between the two groups. However, there was a distinct group-level difference in the intonational realization, with non-autistic participants demonstrating a higher proportion of filled pauses with the canonical level pitch contour. This study provides valuable insights into the conversational use of filled pauses in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sets the stage for future investigations.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Leonard Dung, Albert Newen
Summary: The science of animal consciousness investigates the distribution and quality of conscious experience in different animal species. A two-tier account is proposed to distinguish and address both questions, using ten dimensions of consciousness and cognitive capacities as operationalizations. This framework achieves three valuable aims: separating strong and weak indicators of consciousness, including differences in specific contents and in the processing of those contents, and combining evidence from each dimension to derive a multi-dimensional consciousness profile for different species.
Article
Ethics
Pascale Willemsen, Albert Newen, Karolina Prochownik, Kai Kaspar
Summary: This study investigates how social roles and hierarchies influence the attribution of blame and causation in China, Germany, Poland, the United Arabic Emirates, and the United States of America. The results show that differences in hierarchical positions and responsibilities to care for others affect moral and causal judgments when two agents make a decision together across all these countries. Higher-ranking agents are attributed more blame and considered more causally responsible for the consequences of their actions. The degree of this effect varies based on culture-specific conceptions of hierarchies.
PHILOSOPHICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Linguistics
Simon Wehrle, Kai Vogeley, Martine Grice
Summary: Backchannels (BCs) are commonly used listener signals in spoken interaction, but little is known about their use by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A study of dialogue recordings in German revealed that the ASD group used BCs at a lower rate, with less diversity in lexical realization and less flexibility in intonation contour mapping compared to the non-autistic group. These findings indicate different attention signaling strategies and less flexible behavior in social interaction among autistic individuals.
LANGUAGE AND COGNITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
I. S. Plank, L. S. Traiger, A. M. Nelson, J. C. Koehler, S. F. Lang, R. Tepest, K. Vogeley, A. L. Georgescu, C. M. Falter-Wagner
Summary: When people meet, they quickly form impressions of each other. A study found that first impressions of individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC) are less favorable compared to non-autistic individuals. The study investigated the influence of interpersonal synchrony on impression formation and found that synchrony of motion energy is one driver of these less favorable impressions of autistic people.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
