Lawrence, AD

Lythe, KE

English

The University of Manchester - Institutional Repository

The University of Manchester ResearchIndividual Variation in Amygdala Involvement in Theory ofMind: an fMRI StudyLink to publication record in Manchester Research ExplorerCitation for published version (APA):Lythe, KE., & Lawrence, AD. (2011). Individual Variation in Amygdala Involvement in Theory of Mind: an fMRIStudy. Poster session presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society 2011 Meeting, San Francisco, USA.Citing this paperPlease note that where the full-text provided on Manchester Research Explorer is the Author Accepted Manuscriptor Proof version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use thepublisher's definitive version.General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Research Explorer are retained by theauthors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise andabide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.Takedown policyIf you believe that this document breaches copyright please refer to the University of Manchester’s TakedownProcedures [http://man.ac.uk/04Y6Bo] or contact uml.scholarlycommunications@manchester.ac.uk providingrelevant details, so we can investigate your claim.Download date:09. Jun. 2022Individual Variation in Amygdala Involvement in Theory of Mind: an fMRI StudyKaren E. Lythe and Andrew D. LawrenceSchool of Psychology, Cardiff UniversityBackground • A key component of social cognition is “theory of mind” (ToM) - the ability to infer others’ mental states. In particular, longitudinal research shows that early ToM predicts later prosocial orientation [Eggum et al., 2011].• A network of core regions, including temporoparietal junction (TPJ), dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and precuneus is thought to underpin ToM abilities [Saxe 2006].• Amygdala also implicated in social cognition, including ToM processing [Stone 2003], but it is unclear if it forms part of the core ToM network. One reason is that there might be considerable individual variation in amygdala involvement in ToM.• Reduced amygdala response to social stimuli is seen in individuals with extremely low prosocial motivation –e.g. conduct disorder [Jones et al., 2009], suggesting a link between amygdala function, social cognition and prosocial orientation.Discussion• Variation in amygdala response during FB processing importantly related to prosocial orientation.• This was mediated by ToM ability. Consistent with a role for amygdala in processing mentalistic significance of social stimuli (high-road), not just basic affective or orienting responses (low road) [Pessoa & Adolphs 2010]. • Supports utility of continuum-based approaches to personality-psychopathology relations.Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RMIE) Task• Circle which word best describes what the person is thinking or feeling [Baron-Cohen, et al., 2001].• Advanced test of ToM (RMIE). Predicts real world “social intelligence” [Woolley et al., 2010]. • False belief understanding predicts RMIE performance [Peterson & Slaughter, 2009].           worried  friendly  irritated  sarcastic     fMRI Methods - Theory of Mind (False Belief) Task• 40 healthy females scanned (mean age = 22) • Designed to probe the mental (as opposed to the physical) causes of events [Saxe & Kanwisher 2003].• GE 3 Tesla• Blocked design with 2 block types: False Belief and False Physi cal• Story shown for 10 seconds followed by statement for 4 seconds which participants need to make a response to (true/false). • 24 stories and corresponding statements shown, 12 for each condition.Ken told Andrea that he was going shopping for sandals. At the shoe store, Ken noticed a very nice pair of boots on sale, and bought them instead.Andrea believes Ken will buy a new pair of boots.True                    FalsePart of the garden is supposed to be reserved for the roses; it's labelled accordingly. Recently the garden has run wild, and dandelions have taken over the entire flowerbed.According to the label, these flowers are roses.True                    FalseFalse Belief False PhysicalStory Statement Story StatementResultsdmPFCSuperior temporal sulcusLeft Amygdala AAL ROIWhole brain analysis FB>FPp<0.05 cluster corrected, SPM8Prosocial Orientation• Prosocial orientation measured using the 7-item agreeableness scale of the BFI-44 [John et al., 1991]. This is a well -validated, highly reliable measure. It has been shown to predict e.g. real world helping behaviour. Sample item: Are you someone who is helpful and unselfish with others? Rated 1 – 5 for strength of agreement.AcknowledgementMany thanks to R Saxe and J Andrews-Hanna for providing stimuli for the False Belief task.Aims• To examine the relationship between amygdala involvement in ToM, advanced social cognition ability and prosocial orientation.• Specifically: To examine whether advanced ToM ability mediates the relation between amygdala function and prosocial orientation. TPJResults – Mediation Analysisaghast  fantasizing               impatient  alarmed  Left amygdala FB>FPRMIEProsocial orientationa: ß=39.55 (11.50), p<0.001 b: ß=0.43 (0.13), p<0.01c: ß=21.94 (10.10), p<0.05c`: ß=4.97 (10.23), p=0.63• Amygdala activity during FB predicts prosocial orientation (agreeableness) and RMIE• RMIE predicts agreeableness.• Relation between amygdala response during FB and agreeableness mediated by advanced ToM performance (RMIE). PrecuneusAmygdala SVC p<0.05 FWE-corrected

Individual Variation in Amygdala Involvement in Theory of Mind: an fMRI Study

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Individual Variation in Amygdala Involvement in Theory of Mind: an fMRI Study

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