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Mendez MF. A Functional and Neuroanatomical Model of Dehumanization. Cogn Behav Neurol 2023; 36:42-47. [PMID: 36149395 PMCID: PMC9991937 DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0000000000000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The dehumanization of others is a major scourge of mankind; however, despite its significance, physicians have little understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms for this behavior. We can learn much about dehumanization from its brain-behavior localization and its manifestations in people with brain disorders. Dehumanization as an act of denying to others human qualities includes two major forms. Animalistic dehumanization (also called infrahumanization) results from increased inhibition of prepotent tendencies for emotional feelings and empathy for others. The mechanism may be increased activity in the inferior frontal gyrus. In contrast, mechanistic dehumanization results from a loss of perception of basic human nature and decreased mind-attribution. The mechanism may be hypofunction of a mentalization network centered in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and adjacent subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. Whereas developmental factors may promote animalistic dehumanization, brain disorders, such as frontotemporal dementia, primarily promote mechanistic dehumanization. The consideration of these two processes as distinct, with different neurobiological origins, could help guide efforts to mitigate expression of this behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F. Mendez
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Neurology Service, Neurobehavior Unit, V.A. Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is associated with social and criminal transgressions; studies from countries around the world have documented such behavior in persons with this condition. An overview and analysis of social and criminal transgressions in bvFTD and their potential neurobiological mechanisms can provide a window for understanding the relationship of antisocial behavior and the brain. METHODS This review evaluated the literature on the frequency of social and criminal transgressions in bvFTD and the neurobiological disturbances that underlie them. RESULTS There is a high frequency of transgressions among patients with bvFTD due to impairments in neurocognition, such as social perception, behavioral regulation, and theory of mind, and impairments in social emotions, such as self-conscious emotions and empathy. Additionally, there is significant evidence for a specific impairment in an innate sense of morality. Alterations in these neurobiological processes result from predominantly right-hemisphere pathology in frontal (ventromedial, orbitofrontal, inferolateral frontal), anterior temporal (amygdala, temporal pole), limbic (anterior cingulate, amygdala), and insular regions. CONCLUSIONS Overlapping disturbances in neurocognition, social emotions, and moral reasoning result from disease in the mostly mesial and right-sided frontotemporal network necessary for responding emotionally to others and for behavioral control. With increased sophistication in neurobiological interventions, future goals may be the routine evaluation of these processes among individuals with bvFTD who engage in social and criminal transgressions and the targeting of these neurobiological mechanisms with behavioral, pharmacological, and other interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario F Mendez
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; and Neurology Service, Neurobehavior Unit, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
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Setién-Suero E, Murillo-García N, Sevilla-Ramos M, Abreu-Fernández G, Pozueta A, Ayesa-Arriola R. Exploring the Relationship Between Deficits in Social Cognition and Neurodegenerative Dementia: A Systematic Review. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:778093. [PMID: 35572150 PMCID: PMC9093607 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.778093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundNeurodegenerative diseases might affect social cognition in various ways depending on their components (theory of mind, emotional processing, attribution bias, and social perception) and the subtype of dementia they cause. This review aims to explore this difference in cognitive function among individuals with different aetiologies of dementia.MethodsThe following databases were explored: MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. We selected studies examining social cognition in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases in which dementia was the primary symptom that was studied. The neurodegenerative diseases included Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The search yielded 2,803 articles.ResultsOne hundred twenty-two articles were included in the present review. The summarised results indicate that people with neurodegenerative diseases indeed have deficits in social cognitive performance. Both in populations with Alzheimer's disease and in populations with frontotemporal dementia, we found that emotional processing was strongly affected. However, although theory of mind impairment could also be observed in the initial stages of frontotemporal dementia, in Alzheimer's disease it was only appreciated when performing highly complex task or in advanced stages of the disease.ConclusionsEach type of dementia has a differential profile of social cognition deterioration. This review could provide a useful reference for clinicians to improve detection and diagnosis, which would undoubtedly guarantee better interventions.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020152562, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42020152562.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Setién-Suero
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
- *Correspondence: Esther Setién-Suero ; orcid.org/0000-0002-8027-6546
| | - Nancy Murillo-García
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
| | | | - Georgelina Abreu-Fernández
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
| | - Ana Pozueta
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
- Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Ayesa-Arriola
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
- CIBERSAM, Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health Area, Madrid, Spain
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Johnen A, Bertoux M. Psychological and Cognitive Markers of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia-A Clinical Neuropsychologist's View on Diagnostic Criteria and Beyond. Front Neurol 2019; 10:594. [PMID: 31231305 PMCID: PMC6568027 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is the second leading cognitive disorder caused by neurodegeneration in patients under 65 years of age. Characterized by frontal, insular, and/or temporal brain atrophy, patients present with heterogeneous constellations of behavioral and psychological symptoms among which progressive changes in social conduct, lack of empathy, apathy, disinhibited behaviors, and cognitive impairments are frequently observed. Since the histopathology of the disease is heterogeneous and identified genetic mutations only account for ~30% of cases, there are no reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis of bvFTD available in clinical routine as yet. Early detection of bvFTD thus relies on correct application of clinical diagnostic criteria. Their evaluation however, requires expertise and in-depth assessments of cognitive functions, history taking, clinical observations as well as caregiver reports on behavioral and psychological symptoms and their respective changes. With this review, we aim for a critical appraisal of common methods to access the behavioral and psychological symptoms as well as the cognitive alterations presented in the diagnostic criteria for bvFTD. We highlight both, practical difficulties as well as current controversies regarding an overlap of symptoms and particularly cognitive impairments with other neurodegenerative and primary psychiatric diseases. We then review more recent developments and evidence on cognitive, behavioral and psychological symptoms of bvFTD beyond the diagnostic criteria which may prospectively enhance the early detection and differential diagnosis in clinical routine. In particular, evidence on specific impairments in social and emotional processing, praxis abilities as well as interoceptive processing in bvFTD is summarized and potential links with behavior and classic cognitive domains are discussed. We finally outline both, future opportunities and major challenges with regard to the role of clinical neuropsychology in detecting bvFTD and related neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Johnen
- Section for Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Maxime Bertoux
- Univ Lille, Inserm UMR 1171 Degenerative and Vascular Cognitive Disorders, CHU Lille, Lille, France
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