Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 37th and O St. NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2010 Dec;5(4):392-403. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsq004. Epub 2010 Feb 11.
Mentalization is the process by which an observer views a target as possessing higher cognitive faculties such as goals, intentions and desires. Mentalization can be assessed using action identification paradigms, in which observers choose mentalistic (goals-focused) or mechanistic (action-focused) descriptions of targets' actions. Neural structures that play key roles in inferring goals and intentions from others' observed or imagined actions include temporo-parietal junction, ventral premotor cortex and extrastriate body area. We hypothesized that these regions play a role in action identification as well. Data collected using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) confirmed our predictions that activity in ventral premotor cortex and middle temporal gyrus near the extrastriate body area varies both as a function of the valence of the target and the extent to which actions are identified as goal-directed. In addition, the inferior parietal lobule is preferentially engaged when participants identify the actions of mentalized targets. Functional connectivity analyses suggest support from other regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, during mentalization. We found correlations between action identification and Autism Quotient scores, suggesting that understanding the neural correlates of action identification may enhance our understanding of the underpinnings of essential social cognitive processes.
心理化是指观察者将目标视为具有更高认知能力的过程，例如目标、意图和欲望。心理化可以使用行为识别范式来评估，在这种范式中，观察者选择目标行为的心理主义（以目标为中心）或机械主义（以行动为中心）描述。在从他人观察到的或想象的动作中推断目标和意图的神经结构包括颞顶联合区、腹侧前运动皮层和外纹状体身体区。我们假设这些区域在行为识别中也发挥作用。使用功能磁共振成像（fMRI）收集的数据证实了我们的预测，即腹侧前运动皮层和靠近外纹状体身体区的颞中回的活动不仅随目标的效价而变化，而且随动作被识别为目标导向的程度而变化。此外，当参与者识别心理化目标的行为时，下顶叶更倾向于参与。功能连接分析表明，内侧前额叶皮层和杏仁核等其他区域在心理化过程中提供支持。我们发现行为识别与自闭症量表得分之间存在相关性，这表明理解行为识别的神经相关性可能有助于我们理解基本社会认知过程的基础。
