Murdaugh Donna L, Nadendla Kavita D, Kana Rajesh K
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Neurosci Lett. 2014 May 7;568:50-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.03.051. Epub 2014 Mar 30.
Neuroimaging studies have consistently identified a network of brain regions responsible for making inferences of others' mental states. This network includes the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) at the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), and temporal poles. Although TPJ and MPFC are key nodes of the Theory of Mind (ToM) network, their relative functional roles are still debated. This study sought to examine the contribution of these regions in causal attribution and to explore the nature of the ToM network in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Participants watched a series of comic strip vignettes in the MRI scanner, and identified the most logical ending to each vignette, which sometimes required intentional causal attribution. Independent component analysis was done to isolate temporally correlated brain networks. The functional networks for intentional causality included the TPJ and MPFC, with an increased contribution of TPJ. There was also a significant group difference in the TPJ, with reduced response in participants with ASD. These results suggest an increased role of TPJ in intentional causality. In addition, the reduced response in ASD in TPJ may reflect their difficulties in social cognition.
神经影像学研究一直都能确定一个负责推断他人心理状态的脑区网络。这个网络包括内侧前额叶皮层（MPFC）、颞顶联合区（TPJ）的颞上沟后部（pSTS）以及颞极。尽管TPJ和MPFC是心理理论（ToM）网络的关键节点，但它们相对的功能作用仍存在争议。本研究旨在考察这些区域在因果归因中的作用，并探究自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）患者的ToM网络的本质。参与者在MRI扫描仪中观看一系列连环漫画短片，并为每个短片确定最符合逻辑的结局，这有时需要进行有意的因果归因。进行独立成分分析以分离出时间上相关的脑网络。有意因果关系的功能网络包括TPJ和MPFC，其中TPJ的作用增强。TPJ也存在显著的组间差异，ASD参与者的反应有所减弱。这些结果表明TPJ在有意因果关系中的作用增强。此外，ASD患者TPJ反应减弱可能反映出他们在社会认知方面存在困难。
