Theory of Mind

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

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

3. 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

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

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

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

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

9. Ice Cream!

10. General knowledge of the world What informs our expectations?

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

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

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

14. Neuroimaging

15. Anterior paracingulate cortex Neuroimaging

16. Anterior paracingulate cortex • Superior temporal sulcus Neuroimaging

17. Anterior paracingulate cortex • Superior temporal sulcus • Temporal poles Neuroimaging

18. Anterior paracingulate cortex • Superior temporal sulcus • Temporal poles • Amygdala Neuroimaging

19. Anterior paracingulate cortex • Superior temporal sulcus • Temporal poles • Amygdala • Orbitofrontal cortex Neuroimaging

20. Gallagher et al. (2002) Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

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

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

23. 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 Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

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

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

26. Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

27. Lesion Studies • People with lesions on the right side of their frontal lobe have difficulty detecting deception in others Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

28. 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 Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

29. Superior Temporal Sulcus

30. 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

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

32. Biological Motion Superior Temporal Sulcus

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

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

35. Temporal Poles

36. Recollection of familiar faces and scenes • Recognition of familiar voices • Emotional memory retrieval • Autobiographical memory retrieval Temporal Poles

37. Amygdala

40. Makes quick, automatic judgments in socially salient situations Amygdala

41. Orbitofrontal Cortex

42. Responds to aversive reactions of others, particularly anger Orbitofrontal Cortex

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

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