Theory of Mind Gallagher, H. L., & Frith, C. D. (2003)

Theory of Mind Our ability to explain and predict other people’s behavior by attributing to them independent mental states

Theory of Mind Our ability to explain and predict other people’s behavior by attributing to them independent mental states This enables us to deceive, cooperate, and empathize with others Also aids in predicting the behaviors of others

Theory of Mind How can we study the mechanisms involved in having a theory of mind? ◦Autism Studies

Autism Studies A characteristic of Autism is a selective impairment in theory of mind ◦This accounts for deficits in communication, socialization, and imagination

Autism Studies A characteristic of Autism is a selective impairment in theory of mind ◦This accounts for deficits in communication, socialization, and imagination ◦Sabotage/Deception Task

Leslie’s Model of Mentalizing The theory of mind mechanism depends on a representation of imaginary circumstances ‘decoupled’ from reality

Ice Cream!

What informs our expectations? General knowledge of the world

What informs our expectations? General knowledge of the world Specific knowledge of this person

What informs our expectations? General knowledge of the world Specific knowledge of this person Observations of what he or she is doing

General Knowledge of the World Scripts record the particular goals and activities which take place in a particular setting at a particular time. ◦Such as the ‘restaurant script’

Neuroimaging

Neuroimaging Anterior paracingulate cortex

Neuroimaging Superior temporal sulcus

Neuroimaging Anterior paracingulate cortex Superior temporal sulcus Temporal poles

Neuroimaging Anterior paracingulate cortex Superior temporal sulcus Temporal poles Amygdala

Neuroimaging Anterior paracingulate cortex Superior temporal sulcus Temporal poles Amygdala Orbitofrontal cortex

Anterior Paracingulate Cortex Gallagher et al. (2002)

Anterior Paracingulate Cortex Gallagher et al. (2002) ◦The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up in the “mentalizing group”

Anterior Paracingulate Cortex Gallagher et al. (2002) ◦The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up in the “mentalizing group” McCabe et al. (2001)

Anterior Paracingulate Cortex Gallagher et al. (2002) ◦The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up in the “mentalizing group” McCabe et al. (2001) ◦The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up for the group playing “trust and reciprocity games” with human counterparts

Off-line vs. On-line Mentalizing Off-line mentalizing ◦Mentalizing outside of a situation

Off-line vs. On-line Mentalizing Off-line mentalizing ◦Mentalizing outside of a situation On-line mentalizing ◦Mentalizing in real time

Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

Lesion Studies ◦People with lesions on the right side of their frontal lobe have difficulty detecting deception in others

Anterior Paracingulate Cortex Lesion Studies ◦People with lesions on the right side of their frontal lobe have difficulty detecting deception in others Duncan and Owen (2001) ◦The dorsal part of the anterior cingulate cortex activated with increased task difficulty, but the anterior paracingulate activated during mentalizing

Superior Temporal Sulcus

Gallagher et al (2000) ◦The right superior temporal sulcus is associated with understanding the meaning of stories and cartoons involving people without having to necessarily mentalize

Superior Temporal Sulcus Causality and intentionality in settings involving people Attribution of intentions and movements of geometric shapes Taking the self-perspective

Superior Temporal Sulcus Biological Motion

Superior Temporal Sulcus Biological Motion ◦Hand actions ◦Body movements ◦Mouth movements and lip reading ◦Eye movements and gaze direction

Superior Temporal Sulcus Narumoto et al. (2001) ◦The right superior temporal sulcus is part of a network of face-responsive brain regions.

Temporal Poles

Recollection of familiar faces and scenes Recognition of familiar voices Emotional memory retrieval Autobiographical memory retrieval

Amygdala

Amygdala Makes quick, automatic judgments in socially salient situations

Orbitofrontal Cortex

Responds to aversive reactions of others, particularly anger

Orbitofrontal Cortex Stone et al. (1998) ◦Patients with bilateral damage to the orbitofrontal cortex were impaired in a ‘faux pas test’

Theory of Mind Involves a network of several brain areas which work together to help us