Meta-analyysi antisosiaalisuuden hermostollisesta perustasta

Antisosiaalisuus on suuri ja kallis yhteiskunnallinen ongelma. Antisosiaalisuus on perinnöllistä, kertoen sen elimellisyydestä, ja se yhdistetään usein tunteiden prosessoinnin, toiminnanohjauksen sekä puolustavan ja hyökkäävän aggression järjestelmiin keskushermostossa. Myös peilisolujärjestelmän ja motivaatio- ja oppimisjärjestelmien yhteyksistä antisosiaalisuuteen on näyttöä. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on arvioida meta-analyysin keinoin antisosiaalisuuden keskushermostollista perustaa psykiatrisilla potilailla, väkivaltaisilla vangeilla sekä terveillä verrokeilla. Koska tutkimuskenttä on menetelmiltään ja koehenkilöryhmiltään monipuolinen, tarkastellaan myös käytettyjen kuvantamismenetelmien vaikutuksia tuloksiin. Tutkimus toteutettiin meta-analyysinä Activation Likelihood Estimation -menetelmää (ALE) hyödyntäen. Meta-analyysin aineisto kerättiin Scopus-tietokannasta ja se koostui 1990–2021 julkaistuista englanninkielisistä vertaisarvioituista artikkeleista ja kirjojen kappaleista. Valintakriteereiden mukaan meta-analyysiin sisällytettävän tutkimuksen tuli olla käyttänyt fMRI-, MRI-, PET tai SPECT-kuvantamista joko 1) tarkastellakseen aggressiivisen ärsykkeen aiheuttamia aivoaktivaatioita terveissä ihmisissä, 2) verratakseen antisosiaalisen ryhmän aivoja rakenteellisesti tai toiminnallisesti terveiden tai vähemmän antisosiaalisten verrokkien aivoihin, tai 3) löytääkseen hermostollisia korrelaatteja antisosiaalisille piirteille. Meta-analyysiin sisällytettiin valintakriteerien perusteella yhteensä 406 tutkimusta ja 5047 koordinaattia. Antisosiaalisuus linkittyi selvästi mantelitumakkeisiin, hippokampukseen, tyvitumakkeisiin, pihtipoimun etuosaan ja aivokuoren osalta erityisesti dorsolateraaliseen otsalohkoon ja etuotsalohkoon. Nämä alueet liittyvät erityisesti tunnetiedon prosessointiin, motivaatio- ja oppimistoimintoihin, toiminnanohjaukseen ja sosiaaliseen kognitioon. Tulokset olivat yhteneviä niin rikollisilla, psykiatrisilla potilailla kuin terveillä koehenkilöilläkin. Vakavat ja lievemmät muutokset antisosiaalisuudessa näkyivät samoilla aivojen alueilla, joten nämä alueet osallistuvat antisosiaalisen käyttäytymisen lievien ja vakavien muotojen tuottamiseen. Tuloksissa havaittiin eroja tutkimusmenetelmien välillä. PET- ja SPECT-kuvantamisessa korostuivat erityisesti tyvitumakkeet ja toiminnallisessa magneettikuvantamisessa tulosten laaja-alaisuus. Rakenteellisen magneettikuvauksen tulokset olivat tyypillisesti antisosiaalisuuteen liittyviä aivokudoksen tiheyden alenemia. Tulokset tukevat käsitystä useamman neurokognitiivisen järjestelmän muutosten yhteydestä antisosiaalisuuteen. Tutkimuksen perusteella voidaan antaa myös joitakin suosituksia tulevaan tutkimukseen liittyen niin käytettyihin menetelmiin kuin olennaisimpiin tuleviin tutkimuskohteisiinkin

Cross-cultural evidence for the influence of positive self-evaluation on cross-cultural differences in well-being

Poster Session F - Well-Being: abstract F197We propose that cultural norms about realism and hedonism contribute to the cross-cultural differences in well-being over and above differences in objective living conditions. To test this hypothesis, we used samples from China and the United States. Results supported the mediating role of positive evaluative bias in cross-cultural differences in well-being.postprin

Values and need satisfaction across 20 world regions

Poster Session F - Motivation/Goals: abstract F78Intrinsic valuing predicts the satisfaction of psychological needs (Niemiec, Ryan, & Deci, 2009). We conceptually replicate and extend this finding across 20 world regions. In multi-level models, Schwartz’s (1992) self-transcendence value was positively related to autonomy, competence, and relatedness satisfaction, even when controlling for the Big Five.postprin

Social and Affective Neuroscience of Everyday Human Interaction

This Open Access book presents the current state of the art knowledge on social and affective neuroscience based on empirical findings. This volume is divided into several sections first guiding the reader through important theoretical topics within affective neuroscience, social neuroscience and moral emotions, and clinical neuroscience. Each chapter addresses everyday social interactions and various aspects of social interactions from a different angle taking the reader on a diverse journey. The last section of the book is of methodological nature. Basic information is presented for the reader to learn about common methodologies used in neuroscience alongside advanced input to deepen the understanding and usability of these methods in social and affective neuroscience for more experienced readers

Influences of Empathy in Children: Contextual Creation of Media and Parental Messages

Empathy is an important aspect of moral development and its presence in children has been shown to relate to empathy levels in later life, as well as pro-social behavior (Thompson & Newton, 2010). There are many external influences that impact a child’s moral and empathic development, including media and parents. Regarding media, past research demonstrated the modelling effect of behaviors displayed in various media outlets. The vast majority of research in this area has examined the negative effects of violent media on children’s aggression and few studies have looked closely at the positive influences media can have on children’s empathy development, with conflicting results. Within an Ethnomethodological framework, Study One examined how television media displays empathy compared to callous behavior by using a constant comparative method of analysis and focusing on verbal, nonverbal, and contextual factors in popular television shows for children aged 7-11. When exploring and understanding messages surrounding empathy in selected television shows, many themes emerged. Overall, themes suggested a black and white portrayal of characters as either all good or all bad, as well as context that gives authority to callous characters while pulling for pity for victimized characters. Regarding Study Two, through modelling and reinforcement, parental influence theorized to be is an important factor in developing empathy in children; however, few studies have examined this influence in a way that gives the parents a voice. Study Two allowed parents to reflect upon the way they influence their children’s empathic development through the everyday context of parenting. By engaging parents of children ages 7-11 in a qualitative interview, Study Two explored how parents positively influence their child’s empathy development in everyday interactions. The present research began a more positive and deep exploration of important influences in empathy development in a way that illuminates the worth of context. The various emerging themes from Study One and Study Two are discussed within the context of current research regarding empathy development in children and current theories of moral development. Limitations and areas for possible future research are also considered

Offenders with mental disorder: Psychosocial and neurobiological aspects

The main hypothesis of this thesis is that certain functions, or symptoms, in mentally disordered offenders are connected to biological correlates. There is no specific diagnosis that explains antisocial or violent behaviour. Among offenders some functions or symptoms are considered more common, such as impulsivity and reduced empathy. To date, biological factors related to antisocial and violent behaviour are still not fully understood. This is particularly true in the field of brain imaging, where research-findings are mixed and sometimes contradictive. Biological mechanism associated with antisocial and violent behaviour may have an impact on several forensic psychiatric areas, such as diagnostic assessments, provision of treatment options, risk assessment, and treatment evaluation. Therefore, increased knowledge of these biological factors will be important on many levels in forensic psychiatry and the criminal justice system. In this thesis mentally disordered offenders are studied, using a multi-dimensional approach, with parallel investigation of behaviour and peripheral physiology as well as brain structure and function. The findings imply that there are specific subgroups of offenders. These subgroups differ in crime scene behaviour, psychosocial functioning, and emotional processing, reflected by peripheral physiological reactivity as well as cerebral emotional processing. In study I, crime scene behaviour was studied and the results suggest subgroups of offenders, with respect to differences in psychosocial factors and crime scene behaviour. In study II, emotional reactivity was investigated by measuring peripheral physiological reactivity in response to negative and neutral pictures. In this study, healthy controls and mentally disordered offenders, with different degrees of antisocial behaviour but without psychopathy, were studied. The offenders showed significant lower physiological reactivity in comparison to the controls. Moreover, the attenuated emotional reactivity was a characteristic shared by the offenders overall, thus antisocial behaviour was not a differential factor. In study III, cerebral structural changes were investigated. Cortical thickness was compared between a group of mentally disordered offenders with lack of empathy and healthy controls. The offender group showed thinner cortex in the frontal lobes bilaterally. Also, a negative correlation was found between scores on the psychopathy checklist and cortical thickness in the frontal lobes bilaterally, the right temporal lobe, and right hemisphere, suggesting that these areas are of importance in psychopathy. In study IV, emotional reactivity, reflected by cerebral functioning, was assessed with fMRI, during presentation of fearful and neutral facial expressions. Mentally disordered offenders were compared to healthy controls, moreover, two subgroups of offenders were also compared, the psychopathy group and the autism spectrum disorder group. The results indicated higher cerebral activity in specific brain areas in the mentally disordered offenders, implying altered perception and processing of fearful facial expressions in these subjects. Also, there were differences between the subgroups in the communication between the amygdala and other parts of the limbic system, suggesting that processing of fearful facial expressions differ in the two groups. The results from this thesis suggest that biological factors, in addition to social and psychological factors should be considered in order to advance the understanding of different mechanism underlying antisocial and violent behaviour. Future studies are needed to confirm some of the findings, to further increase knowledge about these biological factors

Social and Affective Neuroscience of Everyday Human Interaction

This Open Access book presents the current state of the art knowledge on social and affective neuroscience based on empirical findings. This volume is divided into several sections first guiding the reader through important theoretical topics within affective neuroscience, social neuroscience and moral emotions, and clinical neuroscience. Each chapter addresses everyday social interactions and various aspects of social interactions from a different angle taking the reader on a diverse journey. The last section of the book is of methodological nature. Basic information is presented for the reader to learn about common methodologies used in neuroscience alongside advanced input to deepen the understanding and usability of these methods in social and affective neuroscience for more experienced readers

The role of adult attachment in the risk pathways for psychosis: modulation on personality traits, emotional availability and neurobiology of emotion processing

Non applicabil

The Simulation of Smiles (SIMS) model: Embodied simulation and the meaning of facial expression

Recent application of theories of embodied or grounded cognition to the recognition and interpretation of facial expression of emotion has led to an explosion of research in psychology and the neurosciences. However, despite the accelerating number of reported findings, it remains unclear how the many component processes of emotion and their neural mechanisms actually support embodied simulation. Equally unclear is what triggers the use of embodied simulation versus perceptual or conceptual strategies in determining meaning. The present article integrates behavioral research from social psychology with recent research in neurosciences in order to provide coherence to the extant and future research on this topic. The roles of several of the brain's reward systems, and the amygdala, somatosensory cortices, and motor centers are examined. These are then linked to behavioral and brain research on facial mimicry and eye gaze. Articulation of the mediators and moderators of facial mimicry and gaze are particularly useful in guiding interpretation of relevant findings from neurosciences. Finally, a model of the processing of the smile, the most complex of the facial expressions, is presented as a means to illustrate how to advance the application of theories of embodied cognition in the study of facial expression of emotion.Peer Reviewe

The proximate mechanisms and ultimate functions of smiles

Niedenthal et al's classification of smiles erroneously conflates psychological mechanisms and adaptive functions. This confusion weakens the rationale behind the types of smiles they chose to individuate, and it obfuscates the distinction between the communicative versus denotative nature of smiles and the role of perceived-gaze direction in emotion recognitio