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Greenberg YDM, Holt R, Allison C, Smith P, Newman R, Boardman-Pretty T, Haidt J, Baron-Cohen S. Moral foundations in autistic people and people with systemizing minds. Mol Autism 2024; 15:20. [PMID: 38745228 PMCID: PMC11092219 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-024-00591-8] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Do autistic people share the same moral foundations as typical people? Here we built on two prominent theories in psychology, moral foundations theory and the empathizing-systemizing (E-S) theory, to observe the nature of morality in autistic people and systemizers. METHODS In dataset 1, we measured five foundations of moral judgements (Care, Fairness, Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity) measured by the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ) in autistic (n = 307) and typical people (n = 415) along with their scores on the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ). In dataset 2, we measured these same five foundations along with E-S cognitive types (previously referred to as "brain types") in a large sample of typical people (N = 7595). RESULTS Autistic people scored the same on Care (i.e., concern for others) as typical people (h1). Their affective empathy (but not their cognitive empathy) scores were positively correlated with Care. Autistic people were more likely to endorse Fairness (i.e., giving people what they are owed, and treating them with justice) over Care (h2). Their systemizing scores were positively correlated with Fairness. Autistic people or those with a systemizing cognitive profile had lower scores on binding foundations: Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity (h3). Systemizing in typical people was positively correlated with Liberty (i.e., hypervigilance against oppression), which is a sixth moral foundation (h4). Although the majority of people in all five E-S cognitive types self-identified as liberal, with a skew towards empathizing (h5), the percentage of libertarians was highest in systemizing cognitive types (h6). E-S cognitive types accounted for 2 to 3 times more variance for Care than did sex. LIMITATIONS Our study is limited by its reliance on self-report measures and a focus on moral judgements rather than behavior or decision-making. Further, only dataset 2 measured political identification, therefore we were unable to assess politics in autistic people. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that some moral foundations in autistic people are similar to those in typical people (despite the difficulties in social interaction that are part of autism), and some are subtly different. These subtle differences vary depending on empathizing and systemizing cognitive types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeshaya David M Greenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- CHIME Research, Center for Health Innovation, Music, and Education, Marlton, NJ, USA.
| | - Rosemary Holt
- Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carrie Allison
- Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paula Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robbie Newman
- Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Theo Boardman-Pretty
- Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Haidt
- Stern School of Business, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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2
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Tolomeo S, Lau S, Ragunath BL, Setoh P, Esposito G. A voxel-based morphometry study on gray matter correlates of need for cognition and exploratory information seeking. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3138. [PMID: 37491807 PMCID: PMC10498082 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Need for cognition (NFC) represents interindividual differences in tendencies to engage and enjoy cognitive endeavors. Exploratory information seeking (EIS) refers to individual tendencies to attain cognitive stimulation through acquiring information related to consumer products or services out of curiosity. METHODS The current study aims to provide an in-depth investigation of the relationship between NFC and EIS and extend this relation to determine neuroanatomical correlates of NFC and EIS. This study proposed two central hypotheses: (1) NFC and EIS scores are positively correlated and (2) the gray matter volume (GMV) of brain regions implicated in motivation, valuation, and reward systems are positively associated with both NFC and EIS. Self-report and structural MRI data of 91 Singaporean Chinese participants were utilized for the study. RESULTS No statistically significant correlation was revealed between NFC and EIS scores. Neuroanatomical associations of the GMV of brain regions implicated in visuospatial, attentional, and reward processing with individual constructs of interest were explored. When examining NFC and EIS scores, larger GMV in the right pallidum and left fusiform gyrus was found in participants that reported higher levels of NFC (vs. lower NFC levels), larger GMV in the left precuneus in those with greater tendencies to engage in EIS (vs. lower EIS levels), and larger GMV of the left fusiform gyrus associated with greater endorsement of both NFC and EIS. When investigating the exploratory factor analysis-generated factors of NFC and EIS, similar patterns of associations were found between self-reported levels of agreement against factors and GMV of brain regions implicated. CONCLUSIONS Correlational analysis and exploratory factor analysis indicated the absence of a relationship between NFC and EIS. Additionally, voxel-based morphometry whole-brain analysis revealed neuroanatomical correlates of the GMV of brain regions implicated in visuospatial, attentional, and reward processing with NFC and EIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serenella Tolomeo
- Institute of High Performance ComputingAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingaporeSingapore
| | - Shermine Lau
- Psychology Program, School of Social SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore
| | - Bindiya L. Ragunath
- Psychology Program, School of Social SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore
| | - Peipei Setoh
- Psychology Program, School of Social SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive ScienceUniversity of TrentoRoveretoItaly
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Pan N, Lin LZ, Wang X, Shi L, Xu XY, Jin YY, Tan S, Song XJ, Jing J, Li XH. Brain structure underlying the empathizing-systemizing difference in children with autism spectrum disorder. World J Pediatr 2023; 19:782-792. [PMID: 37273174 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-023-00732-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioral research has shown that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher empathizing-systemizing difference (D score) than normal children. However, there is no research about the neuroanatomical mechanisms of the empathizing-systemizing difference in children with ASD. METHODS Participants comprised 41 children with ASD and 39 typically developing (TD) children aged 6‒12 years. Empathizing-systemizing difference was estimated using the D score from the Chinese version of Children's Empathy Quotient and Systemizing Quotient. We quantified brain morphometry, including global and regional brain volumes and surface-based cortical measures (cortical thickness, surface area, and gyrification) via structural magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS We found that the D score was significantly negatively associated with amygdala gray matter volume [β = -0.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.30, -0.02; P value = 0.030] in children with ASD. There was a significantly negative association between D score and gyrification in the left lateral occipital cortex (LOC) in children with ASD (B = -0.10; SE = 0.03; cluster-wise P value = 0.006) and a significantly positive association between D score and gyrification in the right fusiform in TD children (B = 0.10; SE = 0.03; cluster-wise P value = 0.022). Moderation analyses demonstrated significant interactions between D score and diagnosed group in amygdala gray matter volume (β = 0.19; 95% CI 0.04, 0.35; P value = 0.013) and left LOC gyrification (β = 0.11; 95% CI 0.05, 0.17; P value = 0.001) but not in right fusiform gyrification (β = 0.08; 95% CI -0.02, 0.17; P value = 0.105). CONCLUSIONS Neuroanatomical variation in amygdala volume and gyrification of LOC could be potential biomarkers for the empathizing-systemizing difference in children with ASD but not in TD children. Large-scale neuroimaging studies are necessary to test the replicability of our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Pan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Li-Zi Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Science, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lei Shi
- JNU-HKUST Joint Laboratory for Neuroscience and Innovative Drug Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Xu
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yu-Ying Jin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Si Tan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jin Jing
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiu-Hong Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Blain SD, Taylor SF, Rutherford SE, Lasagna CA, Yao B, Angstadt M, Green MF, Johnson TD, Peltier S, Diwadkar VA, Tso IF. Neurobehavioral indices of gaze perception are associated with social cognition across schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND CLINICAL SCIENCE 2023; 132:733-748. [PMID: 37384487 PMCID: PMC10513759 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gaze perception is a basic building block of social cognition, which is impaired in schizophrenia (SZ) and contributes to functional outcomes. Few studies, however, have investigated neural underpinnings of gaze perception and their relation to social cognition. We address this gap. METHOD We recruited 77 SZ patients and 71 healthy controls, who completed various social-cognition tasks. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants (62 SZ, 54 controls) completed a gaze-perception task, where they judged whether faces with varying gaze angles were self-directed or averted; as a control condition, participants identified stimulus gender. Activation estimates were extracted based on (a) task versus baseline, (b) gaze-perception versus gender-identification, (c) parametric modulation by perception of stimuli as self-directed versus averted, and (d) parametric modulation by stimulus gaze angle. We used latent variable analysis to test associations among diagnostic group, brain activation, gaze perception, and social cognition. RESULTS Preferential activation to gaze perception was observed throughout dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, superior temporal sulcus, and insula. Activation was modulated by stimulus gaze angle and perception of stimuli as self-directed versus averted. More precise gaze perception and higher task-related activation were associated with better social cognition. Patients with SZ showed hyperactivation within left pre-/postcentral gyrus, which was associated with more precise gaze perception and fewer symptoms and thus may be a compensatory mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Neural and behavioral indices of gaze perception were related to social cognition, across patients and controls. This suggests gaze perception is an important perceptual building block for more complex social cognition. Results are discussed in the context of dimensional psychopathology and clinical heterogeneity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott D. Blain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Stephan F. Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Saige E. Rutherford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Beier Yao
- Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Mike Angstadt
- Functional MRI Lab, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael F. Green
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, CA
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Scott Peltier
- Functional MRI Lab, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Vaibhav A. Diwadkar
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Ivy F. Tso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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5
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Kieckhaefer C, Schilbach L, Bzdok D. Social belonging: brain structure and function is linked to membership in sports teams, religious groups, and social clubs. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:4405-4420. [PMID: 36161309 PMCID: PMC10110433 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac351] [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: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human behavior across the life span is driven by the psychological need to belong, right from kindergarten to bingo nights. Being part of social groups constitutes a backbone for communal life and confers many benefits for the physical and mental health. Capitalizing on the neuroimaging and behavioral data from ∼40,000 participants from the UK Biobank population cohort, we used structural and functional analyses to explore how social participation is reflected in the human brain. Across 3 different types of social groups, structural analyses point toward the variance in ventromedial prefrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, and anterior cingulate cortex as structural substrates tightly linked to social participation. Functional connectivity analyses not only emphasized the importance of default mode and limbic network but also showed differences for sports teams and religious groups as compared to social clubs. Taken together, our findings establish the structural and functional integrity of the default mode network as a neural signature of social belonging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Kieckhaefer
- LVR Klinikum Düsseldorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Bergische Landstraße 2, 40629 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Leonhard Schilbach
- LVR Klinikum Düsseldorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Bergische Landstraße 2, 40629 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Ludwig Maximilians University, Bavariaring 19, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, 3801 rue University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 3775 rue University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
- Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, 6666 rue Saint-Urbain, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3H1, Canada
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6
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Li D, Zhang L, Bai T, Qiu B, Zhu C, Wang K. Oxytocin-Receptor Gene Modulates Reward-Network Connection and Relationship with Empathy Performance. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:85-94. [PMID: 36643732 PMCID: PMC9833327 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s370834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Empathy traits are highly heritable and linked with reward processing. It is implicated that common variations of the oxytocin-receptor gene (OXTR) play a modulatory effect on empathic performance. However, it is unclear about the neural substrates underlying the modulatory effect of the OXTR genotype on empathic performance. This study aimed to characterize the modulatory effect of common OXTR variations on reward-circuitry function and its relationship with empathy. Methods Based on the seed of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc; a key hub of reward circuitry), we examined differences in spontaneous local activity and functional connectivity between OXTR rs2268493 genotype groups and their relationship with empathic performance among 402 high-homogeneity participants. Results Comparing with C carriers (CC/CT) group, the individuals with the rs2268493 TT genotype exhibited lower functional connectivity of the right NAcc with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and inferior frontal gyrus. Similarly lower functional connectivity was found between the left NAcc and mPFC. Consequently, no significant difference was found in the spontaneous local activity of NAcc. Discussion Our findings suggested that common OXTR variations have a modulatory effect on the connection of the NAcc with the hub of empathic networks (mPFC and IFG), which may provide insight on the neural substrate underlying the modulatory effect of OXTR on empathic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Research Center for Translational Medicine, Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Long Zhang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tongjian Bai
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and the Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China., Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Zhu
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Research Center for Translational Medicine, Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Chunyan Zhu; Kai Wang, Email ;
| | - Kai Wang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
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7
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Greenberg DM, Warrier V, Abu-Akel A, Allison C, Gajos KZ, Reinecke K, Rentfrow PJ, Radecki MA, Baron-Cohen S. Sex and age differences in "theory of mind" across 57 countries using the English version of the "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2022385119. [PMID: 36584298 PMCID: PMC9910622 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022385119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test (Eyes Test) is a widely used assessment of "theory of mind." The NIMH Research Domain Criteria recommends it as one of two tests for "understanding mental states." Previous studies have demonstrated an on-average female advantage on the Eyes Test. However, it is unknown whether this female advantage exists across the lifespan and across a large number of countries. Thus, we tested sex and age differences using the English version of the Eyes Test in adolescents and adults across 57 countries. We also tested for associations with sociodemographic and cognitive/personality factors. We leveraged one discovery dataset (N = 305,726) and three validation datasets (Ns = 642; 5,284; and 1,087). The results show that: i) there is a replicable on-average female advantage in performance on the Eyes Test; ii) performance increases through adolescence and shallowly declines across adulthood; iii) the on-average female advantage is evident across the lifespan; iv) there is a significant on-average female advantage in 36 out of 57 countries; v) there is a significant on-average female advantage on translated (non-English) versions of the Eyes Test in 12 out of 16 countries, as confirmed by a systematic review; vi) D-scores, or empathizing-systemizing, predict Eyes Test performance above and beyond sex differences; and vii) the female advantage is negatively linked to "prosperity" and "autonomy," and positively linked to "collectivism," as confirmed by exploratory country-level analyses. We conclude that the on-average female advantage on the Eyes Test is observed across ages and most countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. Greenberg
- Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan5290002, Israel
- Department of Music, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan5290002, Israel
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 8AH, United Kingdom
| | - Varun Warrier
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 8AH, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmad Abu-Akel
- Institut de Psychologie, Université de Lausanne, LausanneCH-1015, Switzerland
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa3498838, Israel
| | - Carrie Allison
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 8AH, United Kingdom
| | - Krzysztof Z. Gajos
- Harvard Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America
| | - Katharina Reinecke
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2355, United States of America
| | - P. Jason Rentfrow
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Marcin A. Radecki
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 8AH, United Kingdom
- Social and Affective Neuroscience Group, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca55100, Italy
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 8AH, United Kingdom
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8
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Wu X, Lu X, Zhang H, Bi Y, Gu R, Kong Y, Hu L. Sex difference in trait empathy is encoded in the human anterior insula. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:5055-5065. [PMID: 36190444 PMCID: PMC10151876 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Females are considered the more empathic sex. This conventional view, however, has been challenged in the past few decades with mixed findings. These heterogeneous findings could be caused by the fact that empathy is a complex and multifaceted construct. To clarify whether sex differences exist in certain dimensions of empathy and whether they are associated with specific neural bases, this study measured trait empathy using the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI) and collected brain structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging data in a large sample of healthy participants (206 males vs. 302 females). We found that females scored higher in the personal distress (PD) subscale than males, but they were comparable to males in other IRI subscales. Sex difference in PD was encoded by brain structural (e.g. gray matter volume in left anterior insula [AI]) and functional (e.g. resting-state functional connectivity between left AI and temporoparietal junction/inferior frontal gyrus) characteristics. Notably, the relationship between sex and PD was indirect-only and serially mediated by AI-associated structural and functional characteristics. Altogether, our results suggested that sex difference existed in self-oriented affective empathy (i.e. PD) and highlighted the importance of the AI, both structurally and functionally, in mediating the sex difference in trait empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuejing Lu
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yanzhi Bi
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ruolei Gu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yazhuo Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Li Hu
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China
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9
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Shiota Y, Matsudaira I, Takeuchi H, Ono C, Tomita H, Kawashima R, Taki Y. The influence of NRXN1 on systemizing and the brain structure in healthy adults. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 16:692-701. [PMID: 34529206 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Certain behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorder can be found in otherwise healthy people. Individuals with difficulties in social adaptation may have subclinical autistic traits; however, effective biomarkers of these traits have not yet been established. There is a dire need for objective indices of these traits that combine behavior, brain images, and genetic information. In this study, we examined the association among a single nucleotide polymorphism of NRXN1 (rs858932; C/G), autistic traits, and brain structure in 311 healthy adults. We found that carriers of minor alleles (carriers of the G-allele) had significantly higher systemizing scores than major-allele (C-allele) homozygotes. Furthermore, the regional white matter volume in the right anterior limb of the internal capsule was significantly greater in carriers of the G-allele than in C-allele homozygotes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of NRXN1 rs858932 being involved in systemizing and the brain structure of healthy adults. Our findings provide insight into the effects of genetics on autistic traits and their respective neural substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Shiota
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Izumi Matsudaira
- Smart-Aging Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Chiaki Ono
- Department of Disaster Psychiatry, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tomita
- Department of Disaster Psychiatry, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Advanced Brain Science, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart-Aging Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart-Aging Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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10
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Dispositional empathy predicts primary somatosensory cortex activity while receiving touch by a hand. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11294. [PMID: 34050215 PMCID: PMC8163792 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90344-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research revealed an active network of brain areas such as insula and anterior cingulate cortex when witnessing somebody else in pain and feeling empathy. But numerous studies also suggested a role of the somatosensory cortices for state and trait empathy. While recent studies highlight the role of the observer’s primary somatosensory cortex when seeing painful or nonpainful touch, the interaction of somatosensory cortex activity with empathy when receiving touch on the own body is unknown. The current study examines the relationship of touch related somatosensory cortex activity with dispositional empathy by employing an fMRI approach. Participants were touched on the palm of the hand either by the hand of an experimenter or by a rubber hand. We found that the BOLD responses in the primary somatosensory cortex were associated with empathy personality traits personal distress and perspective taking. This relationship was observed when participants were touched both with the experimenter’s real hand or a rubber hand. What is the reason for this link between touch perception and trait empathy? We argue that more empathic individuals may express stronger attention both to other’s human perceptions as well as to the own sensations. In this way, higher dispositional empathy levels might enhance tactile processing by top-down processes. We discuss possible implications of these findings.
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11
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Benenson JF, Gauthier E, Markovits H. Girls exhibit greater empathy than boys following a minor accident. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7965. [PMID: 33846514 PMCID: PMC8041981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87214-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hundreds of studies find that girls and women report feeling greater empathy than boys and men in response to adverse events befalling others. Despite this, few non-self-report measures demonstrate similar sex differences. This produces the oft-cited conclusion that to conform to societal expectations of appropriate sex-typed behavior females report higher levels of empathy. Several studies of sex differences in areas of brain activation and on infants' and young children's behavior however provide suggestive findings that self-reports reflect actual underlying sex differences in experiencing concern about others. We demonstrate using behavioral indices that females experience more empathy than males after witnessing an adverse event befall a same-sex classmate. In our study, one member of a pair experienced a minor accident on the way to constructing a tower while a bystander observed. We measured whether bystanders ceased their ongoing activity, looked at the victim, waited for the victim to recover from the accident, and actively intervened to help the victim. Female more than male bystanders engaged in these activities. These behavioral results suggest that an adverse event produces different subjective experiences in females than males that motivate objectively different behaviors, consistent with findings from self-report measures of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce F Benenson
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, H3C 3P8, Canada.
| | - Evelyne Gauthier
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Henry Markovits
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, H3C 3P8, Canada
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12
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Karpouzian-Rogers T, Cobia D, Petersen J, Wang L, Mittal VA, Csernansky JG, Smith MJ. Cognitive Empathy and Longitudinal Changes in Temporo-Parietal Junction Thickness in Schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:667656. [PMID: 34054621 PMCID: PMC8160364 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.667656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Deficits in cognitive empathy are well-documented in individuals with schizophrenia and are related to reduced community functioning. The temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is closely linked to cognitive empathy. We compared the relationship between baseline cognitive empathy and changes in TPJ thickness over 24 months between individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Methods: Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 26) completed a cognitive empathy task and underwent structural neuroimaging at baseline and approximately 24 months later. Symmetrized percent change scores were calculated for right and left TPJ, as well as whole-brain volume, and compared between groups. Task accuracy was examined as a predictor of percent change in TPJ thickness and whole-brain volume in each group. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated poorer accuracy on the cognitive empathy task (p < 0.001) and thinner TPJ cortex relative to controls at both time points (p = 0.01). In schizophrenia, greater task accuracy was uniquely related to less thinning of the TPJ over time (p = 0.02); task accuracy did not explain changes in left TPJ or whole-brain volume. Among controls, task accuracy did not explain changes in right or left TPJ, or whole-brain volume. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that greater cognitive empathy may explain sustained integrity of the right TPJ in individuals with schizophrenia, suggesting a contributory substrate for the long-term maintenance of this process in psychosis. Cognitive empathy was not related to changes in whole-brain volume, demonstrating the unique role of the TPJ in cognitive empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Karpouzian-Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States.,Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Derin Cobia
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Julie Petersen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Vijay A Mittal
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - John G Csernansky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Matthew J Smith
- School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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13
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Diurnal Preference and Grey Matter Volume in a Large Population of Older Adults: Data from the UK Biobank. J Circadian Rhythms 2020; 18:3. [PMID: 32405316 PMCID: PMC7207247 DOI: 10.5334/jcr.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Eveningness (a diurnal preference for evening time) is associated with a number of negative health outcomes and risk and prevalence for psychiatric disorder. Our understanding of the anatomical substrates of diurnal preference, however, is limited. The current study used Voxel-Based Morphometry to compare grey matter volume in a large sample (N = 3730) of healthy adults determined by questionnaire to be either definite morning-type or definite evening-type. Eveningness was associated with increased grey matter volume in precuneus, brain regions implicated in risk and reward processing (bilateral nucleus accumbens, caudate, putamen and thalamus) and orbitofrontal cortex. These results indicate an anatomical-basis for diurnal preference which may underlie reported differences in behaviour and brain function observed in these individuals.
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14
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Yaxu Y, Ren Z, Ward J, Jiang Q. Atypical Brain Structures as a Function of Gray Matter Volume (GMV) and Gray Matter Density (GMD) in Young Adults Relating to Autism Spectrum Traits. Front Psychol 2020; 11:523. [PMID: 32322224 PMCID: PMC7158890 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autistic traits are those who present in the normal population with characteristics of social, communication, personality, and cognitive impairments but do not meet the clinical threshold for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most studies have focused on the abnormalities in ASD patients rather than on individuals with autistic traits. In this study, we focused on the behaviors of a large sample (N = 401) of Chinese individuals with different levels of autistic traits, measured using the Autism Spectrum Quotient, and applied voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to determine their association to differences in brain structure. The results mainly showed that the correlation between gray matter volume (GMV) and gray matter density of the brain and the Autism Spectrum Quotient was significant in these regions: the right middle frontal gyrus, which are involved in social processing and social reasoning; the left parahippocampal gyrus, which is involved in socioemotional behaviors and unconscious relational memory encoding; and the right superior parietal lobule, which are involved in cognitive control and the ability to show attention to detail. These findings reveal that people with autistic traits in the normal population have atypical development in GMV and gray matter density, which may affect their social functioning and communication ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yaxu
- School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiting Ren
- School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Jamie Ward
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Qiu Jiang
- School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
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15
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Kobayashi A, Yokota S, Takeuchi H, Asano K, Asano M, Sassa Y, Taki Y, Kawashima R. Increased grey matter volume of the right superior temporal gyrus in healthy children with autistic cognitive style: A VBM study. Brain Cogn 2019; 139:105514. [PMID: 31902739 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2019.105514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The empathizing-systemizing model describes human cognitive style using empathizing (the drive to identify another's mental state and respond appropriately) and systemizing (the drive to assess or construct rule-based systems). 'Brain type' was envisioned to explain individual differences in cognitive style based on the discrepancy of the two drives. In this model, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, have extremely stronger systemizing. Revealing the underlying mechanisms of individual differences in cognitive style might contribute to elucidation of the pathology of ASD. We used voxel-based morphometry to compare the brain structures among the brain types (those who have stronger empathizing, those who have equally stronger drive to both, and those who have stronger systemizing) in 207 healthy children (age range: 5-15). Results showed that children with stronger systemizing had significantly greater grey matter volume of the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG) than the others. The brain region, a distinctive brain structure of those with stronger systemizing, was overlapped with that of children with ASD. The rSTG is involved in detailed perceptual processing in social cognition, which is partially related to stronger systemizing. Our results contribute to elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of individual differences in cognitive style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Kobayashi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan.
| | - Susumu Yokota
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan
| | - Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Kohei Asano
- Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Michiko Asano
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan; Global Research Center for Logic and Sensibility, Keio University, Japan
| | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan; Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Japan
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16
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Li Y, Zhang T, Li W, Zhang J, Jin Z, Li L. Linking brain structure and activation in anterior insula cortex to explain the trait empathy for pain. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 41:1030-1042. [PMID: 31691467 PMCID: PMC7267919 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to perceive, understand, and react to the feelings of others' pain is referred to as empathy for pain which is composed of two components, affective‐perceptual empathy and cognitive‐evaluative empathy. Recent reviews on the neural mechanisms of empathetic pain showed the anterior insula (AI) cortex as a core circuit for empathy. However, little is known about the modulation of brain anatomy and empathic responses by trait measures of empathy (trait empathy). Thus, we investigated whether individual variation in the personality trait of empathy is associated with individual variation in the structure of specific brain regions using voxel‐based morphometry (VBM). We further investigated the relationship between the trait empathy and the activity of the same regions using state measures of empathy for pain in a trial‐by‐trial fashion in the given situation. VBM analysis indicated a small but significant negative relationship between trait empathy and gray matter volume in the bilateral AI. Functional MRI study further demonstrated that experimentally induced activity of the bilateral AI during state empathy for pain was also correlated with trait empathy. An asymmetry exists between the right and left AI between the affective and cognitive empathy. The right AI was found to be involved in the affective‐perceptual form of empathy and the left AI was active in cognitive‐evaluative forms of empathy. The interindividual differences in trait empathy may be reflected both in the state empathy and more stable brain structure difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054.,School of Management, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China, 611137
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Wenjuan Li
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Junjun Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Zhenlan Jin
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Ling Li
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
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17
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The Empathizing–Systemizing Theory and ‘Extreme Male Brain’ (EMB) Theory in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): An Explorative, Cross-Sectional Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:4067-4078. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04114-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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18
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Abstract
Empathizing is defined as “the drive to identify another’s mental states and to respond to these with an appropriate emotion” and systemizing is defined as “the drive to the drive to analyze and construct rule-based systems”. While mean diffusivity (MD) has been robustly associated with several cognitive traits and disorders related with empathizing and systemizing, its direct correlation with empathizing and systemizing remains to be investigated. We undertook voxel-by-voxel investigations of regional MD to discover microstructural correlates of empathizing, systemizing, and the discrepancy between them (D score: systemizing − empathizing). Whole-brain analyses of covariance revealed that across both sexes, empathizing was positively correlated with MD of (a) an anatomical cluster that primarily spreads in the areas in and adjacent to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left anterior to the middle cingulate cortex, and left insula and (b) an anatomical cluster of the left postcentral gyrus and left rolandic operculum. The former overlaps with positive MD correlates of cooperativeness. The D score and systemizing did not show significant correlations. In conclusion, while increased MD has generally been associated with reduced neural tissues and possibly area function, higher empathizing and cooperativeness were commonly reflected by greater MD values in areas (a) that mainly overlap with areas that play a key role in emotional salience and empathy. In addition, higher empathizing was correlated with greater MD values in areas (b) that play a key role in the mirror neuron system.
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19
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Takeuchi H, Kawashima R. Implications of large-sample neuroimaging studies of creativity measured by divergent thinking. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin G. DeYoung
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Robert F. Krueger
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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21
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Doruyter A, Dupont P, Taljaard L, Stein DJ, Lochner C, Warwick JM. Resting regional brain metabolism in social anxiety disorder and the effect of moclobemide therapy. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:569-581. [PMID: 29101601 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-017-0145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
While there is mounting evidence of abnormal reactivity of several brain regions in social anxiety disorder, and disrupted functional connectivity between these regions at rest, relatively little is known regarding resting regional neural activity in these structures, or how such activity is affected by pharmacotherapy. Using 2-deoxy-2-(F-18)fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography, we compared resting regional brain metabolism between SAD and healthy control groups; and in SAD participants before and after moclobemide therapy. Voxel-based analyses were confined to a predefined search volume. A second, exploratory whole-brain analysis was conducted using a more liberal statistical threshold. Fifteen SAD participants and fifteen matched controls were included in the group comparison. A subgroup of SAD participants (n = 11) was included in the therapy effect comparison. No significant clusters were identified in the primary analysis. In the exploratory analysis, the SAD group exhibited increased metabolism in left fusiform gyrus and right temporal pole. After therapy, SAD participants exhibited reductions in regional metabolism in a medial dorsal prefrontal region and increases in right caudate, right insula and left postcentral gyrus. This study adds to the limited existing work on resting regional brain activity in SAD and the effects of therapy. The negative results of our primary analysis suggest that resting regional activity differences in the disorder, and moclobemide effects on regional metabolism, if present, are small. While the outcomes of our secondary analysis should be interpreted with caution, they may contribute to formulating future hypotheses or in pooled analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Doruyter
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Patrick Dupont
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lian Taljaard
- MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dan J Stein
- MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christine Lochner
- MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - James M Warwick
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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22
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Kidron R, Kaganovskiy L, Baron-Cohen S. Empathizing-systemizing cognitive styles: Effects of sex and academic degree. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194515. [PMID: 29579056 PMCID: PMC5868797 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study tests if the drives to empathize (E) and systemize (S), measured by the Systemizing Quotient-Revised (SQ-R) and Empathy Quotient (EQ), show effects of sex and academic degree. The responses of 419 students from the Humanities and the Physical Sciences were analyzed in terms of the E-S theory predictions. Results confirm that there is an interaction between sex, degree and the drive to empathize relative to systemize. Female students in the Humanities on average had a stronger drive to empathize than to systemize in comparison to males in the Humanities. Male students in the Sciences on average had a stronger drive to systemize than to empathize in comparison to females in the Sciences. Finally, students in the sciences on average had a stronger drive to systemize more than to empathize, irrespective of their sex. The reverse is true for students in the Humanities. These results strongly replicate earlier findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Kidron
- College of Arts and Letters, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, Touro College and University system, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Leon Kaganovskiy
- Mathematics Department, Touro College and University system, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service (CLASS) Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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23
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Allergic tendencies are associated with larger gray matter volumes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3694. [PMID: 29487315 PMCID: PMC5829247 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21985-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Allergic tendencies are associated with important cognitive and physiological factors, such as intelligence and mathematical abilities. Allergies are widely prevalent, especially in modern life, and the reason for its association with important cognitive variables is an intriguing scientific question. However, despite the unique characteristics of cognitive correlates of allergy, the anatomical correlates of allergy remain unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the associations between regional gray matter volume (rGMV) and allergic tendencies in young adults. In a study cohort of 1,219 healthy, educated young adults, we identified a positive correlation between total allergic tendency and rGMV in large anatomical clusters that mainly encompassed the dorsal part of the cerebral neocortex, right anterior insula, and cerebellum. Furthermore,both mean rGMV of the entire part of these clusters and total allergenic tendency showed a significant positive correlation with spatial ability. These results suggest the link among allergic tendencies, larger rGMV, and the better spatial ability in healthy, educated young adults.
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24
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Riekki T, Salmi J, Svedholm-Häkkinen AM, Lindeman M. Intuitive physics ability in systemizers relies on differential use of the internalizing system and long-term spatial representations. Neuropsychologia 2018; 109:10-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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25
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Global associations between regional gray matter volume and diverse complex cognitive functions: evidence from a large sample study. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10014. [PMID: 28855703 PMCID: PMC5577279 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10104-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Correlations between regional gray matter volume (rGMV) and psychometric test scores have been measured to investigate the neural bases for individual differences in complex cognitive abilities (CCAs). However, such studies have yielded different rGMV correlates of the same CCA. Based on the available evidence, we hypothesized that diverse CCAs are all positively but only weakly associated with rGMV in widespread brain areas. To test this hypothesis, we used the data from a large sample of healthy young adults [776 males and 560 females; mean age: 20.8 years, standard deviation (SD) = 0.8] and investigated associations between rGMV and scores on multiple CCA tasks (including non-verbal reasoning, verbal working memory, Stroop interference, and complex processing speed tasks involving spatial cognition and reasoning). Better performance scores on all tasks except non-verbal reasoning were associated with greater rGMV across widespread brain areas. The effect sizes of individual associations were generally low, consistent with our previous studies. The lack of strong correlations between rGMV and specific CCAs, combined with stringent corrections for multiple comparisons, may lead to different and diverse findings in the field.
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26
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Allen M, Frank D, Glen JC, Fardo F, Callaghan MF, Rees G. Insula and somatosensory cortical myelination and iron markers underlie individual differences in empathy. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43316. [PMID: 28256532 PMCID: PMC5335674 DOI: 10.1038/srep43316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy is a key component of our ability to engage and interact with others. In recent years, the neural mechanisms underlying affective and cognitive empathy have garnered intense interest. This work demonstrates that empathy for others depends upon a distributed network of regions such as the insula, parietal cortex, and somatosensory areas, which are also activated when we ourselves experience an empathized-with emotion (e.g., pain). Individuals vary markedly in their ability to empathize with others, which predicts the tendency to help others and relates to individual differences in the neuroanatomy of these areas. Here, we use a newly developed, high-resolution (800 μm isotropic), quantitative MRI technique to better elucidate the neuroanatomical underpinnings of individual differences in empathy. Our findings extend previous studies of the neuroanatomical correlates of cognitive and affective empathy. In particular, individual differences in cognitive empathy were associated with markers of myeloarchitectural integrity of the insular cortex, while affective empathy was predicted by a marker of iron content in second somatosensory cortex. These results indicate potential novel biomarkers of trait empathy, suggesting that microstructural features of an empathy and body-related network are crucial for understanding the mental and emotional states of others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah Allen
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Darya Frank
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
| | - James C Glen
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK
| | - Francesca Fardo
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Danish Pain Research Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Hospital, Norrebrogade 44,Building 1A, 1st floor, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.,Interacting Minds Centre, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Martina F Callaghan
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Geraint Rees
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, Alexandra House, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
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27
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Massey SH, Stern D, Alden EC, Petersen JE, Cobia DJ, Wang L, Csernansky JG, Smith MJ. Cortical thickness of neural substrates supporting cognitive empathy in individuals with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2017; 179:119-124. [PMID: 27665257 PMCID: PMC5222696 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive empathy is supported by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC), insula (INS), supplementary motor area (SMA), right temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), and precuneus (PREC). In healthy controls, cortical thickness in these regions has been linked to cognitive empathy. As cognitive empathy is impaired in schizophrenia, we examined whether reduced cortical thickness in these regions was associated with poorer cognitive empathy in this population. METHODS 41 clinically-stable community-dwelling individuals with schizophrenia and 46 healthy controls group-matched on demographic variables completed self-report empathy questionnaires, a cognitive empathy task, and structural magnetic resonance imaging. We examined between-group differences in study variables using t-tests and analyses of variance. Next, we used Pearson correlations to evaluate the relationship between cognitive empathy and cortical thickness in the mPFC, IFG, aMCC, INS, SMA, TPJ, and PREC in both groups. RESULTS Individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated cortical thinning in the IFG, INS, SMA, TPJ, and PREC (all p<0.05) and impaired cognitive empathy across all measures (all p<0.01) relative to controls. While cortical thickness in the mPFC, IFC, aMCC, and INS (all p<0.05) was related to cognitive empathy in controls, we did not observe these relationships in individuals with schizophrenia (all p>0.10). CONCLUSIONS Individuals with schizophrenia have reduced cortical thickness in empathy-related neural regions and significant impairments in cognitive empathy. Interestingly, cortical thickness was related to cognitive empathy in controls but not in the schizophrenia group. We discuss other mechanisms that may account for cognitive empathy impairment in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suena H. Massey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 E. Ontario, Suite 7-100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA,Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 633 N Saint Clair Street, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Daniel Stern
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Eva C. Alden
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 E. Ontario, Suite 7-100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Julie E. Petersen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 E. Ontario, Suite 7-100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Derin J. Cobia
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 E. Ontario, Suite 7-100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 E. Ontario, Suite 7-100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA,Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - John G. Csernansky
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 E. Ontario, Suite 7-100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Matthew J. Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 446 E. Ontario, Suite 7-100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA,Corresponding Author: Dr. Matthew J. Smith, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall, 13th Floor, 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, Phone: 1-312-503-2542, Fax: 1-312-503-0527,
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28
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Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Nouchi R, Yokoyama R, Kotozaki Y, Nakagawa S, Sekiguchi A, Iizuka K, Yamamoto Y, Hanawa S, Araki T, Makoto Miyauchi C, Shinada T, Sakaki K, Sassa Y, Nozawa T, Ikeda S, Yokota S, Daniele M, Kawashima R. Creative females have larger white matter structures: Evidence from a large sample study. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 38:414-430. [PMID: 27647672 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of brain connectivity for creativity has been theoretically suggested and empirically demonstrated. Studies have shown sex differences in creativity measured by divergent thinking (CMDT) as well as sex differences in the structural correlates of CMDT. However, the relationships between regional white matter volume (rWMV) and CMDT and associated sex differences have never been directly investigated. In addition, structural studies have shown poor replicability and inaccuracy of multiple comparisons over the whole brain. To address these issues, we used the data from a large sample of healthy young adults (776 males and 560 females; mean age: 20.8 years, SD = 0.8). We investigated the relationship between CMDT and WMV using the newest version of voxel-based morphometry (VBM). We corrected for multiple comparisons over whole brain using the permutation-based method, which is known to be quite accurate and robust. Significant positive correlations between rWMV and CMDT scores were observed in widespread areas below the neocortex specifically in females. These associations with CMDT were not observed in analyses of fractional anisotropy using diffusion tensor imaging. Using rigorous methods, our findings further supported the importance of brain connectivity for creativity as well as its female-specific association. Hum Brain Mapp 38:414-430, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Advanced Brain Science, Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Division of Clinical research, Medical-Industry Translational Research Center, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Adult Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunio Iizuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Sugiko Hanawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Araki
- Department of Advanced Brain Science, Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Carlos Makoto Miyauchi
- Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takamitsu Shinada
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kohei Sakaki
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nozawa
- Department of Ubiquitous Sensing, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Ikeda
- Department of Ubiquitous Sensing, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Susumu Yokota
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Magistro Daniele
- School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, Loughborough University, England
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Advanced Brain Science, Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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29
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Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Sekiguchi A, Nouchi R, Kotozaki Y, Nakagawa S, Miyauchi CM, Iizuka K, Yokoyama R, Shinada T, Yamamoto Y, Hanawa S, Araki T, Hashizume H, Kunitoki K, Sassa Y, Kawashima R. Differences in gray matter structure correlated to nationalism and patriotism. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29912. [PMID: 27418362 PMCID: PMC4945903 DOI: 10.1038/srep29912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Nationalism and patriotism both entail positive evaluations of one's nation. However, the former inherently involves derogation of other nations, whereas the latter is independent of comparisons with other nations. We used voxel-based morphometry and psychological measures and determined nationalism and patriotism's association with gray matter density (rGMD) and their cognitive nature in healthy individuals (433 men and 344 women; age, 20.7 ± 1.9 years) using whole-brain multiple regression analyses and post hoc analyses. We found higher nationalism associated with greater rGMD in (a) areas of the posterior cingulate cortex and greater rGMD in (b) the orbitofrontal cortex, and smaller rGMD in (c) the right amygdala area. Furthermore, we found higher patriotism associated with smaller rGMD in the (d) rostrolateral prefrontal cortex. Post hoc analyses revealed the mean rGMD of the cluster (a) associated with compassion, that of (b) associated with feeling of superiority, that of (c) associated with suicide ideation, and that of (d) associated with quality of life. These results indicate that individual nationalism may be mediated by neurocognitive mechanisms in social-related areas and limbic neural mechanisms, whereas patriotism may be mediated by neurocognitive mechanisms in areas related to well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Carlos Makoto Miyauchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunio Iizuka
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Yokoyama
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takamitsu Shinada
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Sugiko Hanawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Araki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hashizume
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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30
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Alterations in gray matter volume due to unilateral hearing loss. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25811. [PMID: 27174521 PMCID: PMC4865827 DOI: 10.1038/srep25811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although extensive research on neural plasticity resulting from hearing deprivation has been conducted, the direct influence of compromised audition on the auditory cortex and the potential impact of long durations of incomplete sensory stimulation on the adult cortex are still not fully understood. In this study, using voxel-based morphometry, we evaluated gray matter (GM) volume changes that may be associated with reduced hearing ability and the duration of hearing impairment in 42 unilateral hearing loss (UHL) patients with acoustic neuromas compared to 24 normal controls. We found significant GM volume increases in the somatosensory and motor systems and GM volume decreases in the auditory (i.e., Heschl’s gyrus) and visual systems (i.e., the calcarine cortex) in UHL patients. The GM volume decreases in the primary auditory cortex (i.e., superior temporal gyrus and Heschl’s gyrus) correlated with reduced hearing ability. Meanwhile, the GM volume decreases in structures involving high-level cognitive control functions (i.e., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex) correlated positively with hearing loss duration. Our findings demonstrated that the severity and duration of UHL may contribute to the dissociated morphology of auditory and high-level neural structures, providing insight into the brain’s plasticity related to chronic, persistent partial sensory loss.
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31
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Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Sekiguchi A, Nouchi R, Kotozaki Y, Nakagawa S, Miyauchi CM, Iizuka K, Yokoyama R, Shinada T, Yamamoto Y, Hanawa S, Araki T, Hashizume H, Kunitoki K, Sassa Y, Kawashima R. Regional gray matter density is associated with morningness-eveningness: Evidence from voxel-based morphometry. Neuroimage 2015; 117:294-304. [PMID: 26003859 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diurnal preference (morningness-eveningness) is known to be associated with several individual characteristics that are important in the fields of sociology, education, and psychiatry. Despite this importance, the anatomical correlates of individual differences in morningness-eveningness are unknown, and these were investigated in the present study. We used voxel-based morphometry and a questionnaire to determine individual morningness-eveningness and its association with brain structures in 432 healthy men and 344 healthy women (age, 20.7±1.8years). We demonstrated that morningness (less eveningness) was associated with (a) lower regional gray matter density (rGMD) in the precuneus and adjacent areas, (b) lower rGMD in the left posterior parietal cortex and adjacent areas, and (c) higher rGMD in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex. Further, our exploratory analyses revealed that (d) higher rGMD in hypothalamic areas around the bilateral suprachiasmatic nuclei were associated with morningness. These findings demonstrate that variations in morningness-eveningness reflect the GM structures of focal regions across the cortex, and suggest a structural basis for individual morningness-eveningness and its association with a wide range of psychological variables distributed across different GM areas of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Carlos Makoto Miyauchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kunio Iizuka
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Yokoyama
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takamitsu Shinada
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Sugiko Hanawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Araki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hashizume
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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32
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High cognitive sensitivity to activational effects of testosterone in parents of offspring with autism spectrum disorders. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2014.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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33
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Kong F, Ding K, Yang Z, Dang X, Hu S, Song Y, Liu J. Examining gray matter structures associated with individual differences in global life satisfaction in a large sample of young adults. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2014; 10:952-60. [PMID: 25406366 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsu144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although much attention has been directed towards life satisfaction that refers to an individual's general cognitive evaluations of his or her life as a whole, little is known about the neural basis underlying global life satisfaction. In this study, we used voxel-based morphometry to investigate the structural neural correlates of life satisfaction in a large sample of young healthy adults (n = 299). We showed that individuals' life satisfaction was positively correlated with the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), and negatively correlated with the rGMV in the left precuneus and left ventromedial prefrontal cortex. This pattern of results remained significant even after controlling for the effect of general positive and negative affect, suggesting a unique structural correlates of life satisfaction. Furthermore, we found that self-esteem partially mediated the association between the PHG volume and life satisfaction as well as that between the precuneus volume and global life satisfaction. Taken together, we provide the first evidence for the structural neural basis of life satisfaction, and highlight that self-esteem might play a crucial role in cultivating an individual's life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zetian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Dang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Siyuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiying Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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34
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Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Sekiguchi A, Nouchi R, Kotozaki Y, Nakagawa S, Miyauchi CM, Iizuka K, Yokoyama R, Shinada T, Yamamoto Y, Hanawa S, Araki T, Hashizume H. Creativity measured by divergent thinking is associated with two axes of autistic characteristics. Front Psychol 2014; 5:921. [PMID: 25191299 PMCID: PMC4137690 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Creativity generally involves the conception of original and valuable ideas, and it plays a key role in scientific achievement. Moreover, individuals with autistic spectrum conditions (ASCs) tend to achieve in scientific fields. Recently, it has been proposed that low empathizing and high systemizing characterize individuals with ASCs. Empathizing is the drive to identify the mental status of other individuals and respond to it with an appropriate emotion; systemizing is the drive to analyze a system. It has been proposed that this higher systemizing underlies the scientific achievement of individuals with ASCs, suggesting the possible positive association between creativity and systemizing. However, previous findings on the association between ASCs and creativity were conflicting. Conversely, previous studies have suggested an association between prosocial traits and creativity, indicating the possible association between empathizing and creativity. Here we investigated the association between creativity measured by divergent thinking (CDT) and empathizing, systemizing, and the discrepancy between systemizing and empathizing, which is called D score. CDT was measured using the S-A creativity test. The individual degree of empathizing (empathizing quotient, EQ) and that of systemizing (systemizing quotient, SQ), and D score was measured via a validated questionnaire (SQ and EQ questionnaires). The results showed that higher CDT was significantly and positively correlated with both the score of EQ and the score of SQ but not with D score. These results suggest that CDT is positively associated with one of the characteristics of ASCs (analytical aspects), while exhibiting a negative association with another (lower social aspects). Therefore, the discrepancy between systemizing and empathizing, which is strongly associated with autistic tendency, was not associated with CDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan ; Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan ; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan ; Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan ; Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Carlos M Miyauchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Kunio Iizuka
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Yokoyama
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan ; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takamitsu Shinada
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Sugiko Hanawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Araki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hashizume
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University Sendai, Japan
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35
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Abstract
The areas of academic interest (sciences or humanities) and area of study have been known to be associated with a number of factors associated with autistic traits. However, despite the vast amount of literature on the psychological and physiological characteristics associated with faculty membership, brain structural characteristics associated with faculty membership have never been investigated directly. In this study, we used voxel-based morphometry to investigate differences in regional gray matter volume (rGMV)/regional white matter volume (rWMV) between science and humanities students to test our hypotheses that brain structures previously robustly shown to be altered in autistic subjects are related to differences in faculty membership. We examined 312 science students (225 males and 87 females) and 179 humanities students (105 males and 74 females). Whole-brain analyses of covariance revealed that after controlling for age, sex, and total intracranial volume, the science students had significantly larger rGMV in an anatomical cluster around the medial prefrontal cortex and the frontopolar area, whereas the humanities students had significantly larger rWMV in an anatomical cluster mainly concentrated around the right hippocampus. These anatomical structures have been linked to autism in previous studies and may mediate cognitive functions that characterize differences in faculty membership. The present results may support the ideas that autistic traits and characteristics of the science students compared with the humanities students share certain characteristics from neuroimaging perspectives. This study improves our understanding of differences in faculty membership which is the link among cognition, biological factors, disorders, and education (academia).
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36
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Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Nouchi R, Hashizume H, Sekiguchi A, Kotozaki Y, Nakagawa S, Miyauchi CM, Sassa Y, Kawashima R. Working memory training impacts the mean diffusivity in the dopaminergic system. Brain Struct Funct 2014; 220:3101-11. [PMID: 25023736 PMCID: PMC4575686 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-014-0845-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Dopaminergic transmission plays a critical role in working memory (WM). Mean diffusivity (MD) is a sensitive and unique neuroimaging tool for detecting microstructural differences particularly in the areas of the dopaminergic system. Despite previous investigation of the effects of WM training (WMT) on dopamine receptor binding potentials, the effects of WMT on MD remain unknown. In this study, we investigated these effects in young adult subjects who either underwent WMT or received no intervention for 4 weeks. Before and after the intervention or no-intervention periods, subjects underwent scanning sessions in diffusion-weighted imaging to measure MD. Compared with no intervention, WMT resulted in an increase in MD in the bilateral caudate, right putamen, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), right substantia nigra, and ventral tegmental area. Furthermore, the increase in performance on WMT tasks was significantly positively correlated with the mean increase in MD in the clusters of the left DLPFC and of the right ACC. These results suggest that WMT caused microstructural changes in the regions of the dopaminergic system in a way that is usually interpreted as a reduction in neural components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.,Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hashizume
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Carlos Makoto Miyauchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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37
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Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Nouchi R, Sekiguchi A, Hashizume H, Sassa Y, Kotozaki Y, Miyauchi CM, Yokoyama R, Iizuka K, Nakagawa S, Nagase T, Kunitoki K, Kawashima R. Association between resting-state functional connectivity and empathizing/systemizing. Neuroimage 2014; 99:312-22. [PMID: 24844739 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathizing is the drive to identify the mental status of other individuals and respond to it with an appropriate emotion; systemizing is the drive to analyze a system. Previously, we have shown that structures associated with the default mode network (DMN) and external attention system (EAS) are associated with empathizing and systemizing, respectively. Here we investigated the association between resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and empathizing/systemizing in 248 healthy young adults. We considered the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs), which are key nodes of DMN and EAS, as seed regions, and investigated correlations across subjects between individual empathizing/systemizing and RSFC between each seed region and other brain regions. We found that higher empathizing was associated with larger RSFC between the mPFC and areas in (a) the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), (b) precuneus, and (c) left superior temporal sulcus (STS). Furthermore, there was an interaction effect between sex and systemizing on RSFC between the left DLPFC and dACC: males showed positive correlations between this RSFC and systemizing, whereas females showed the opposite tendency. Thus, empathizing was associated with increased positive functional coupling with the key node and other nodes of DMN, as well as the area associated with feeling another's pain. Systemizing was associated with increased positive functional coupling between the key nodes of EAS in males. These findings provide further support for the concept of an association between DMN/EAS and empathizing/systemizing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Division of Medical Image Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Division of Medical Image Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hashizume
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Carlos Makoto Miyauchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Yokoyama
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunio Iizuka
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tomomi Nagase
- Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan; Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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