Distinct recruitment of temporo-parietal junction and medial prefrontal cortex in behavior understanding and trait identification

作者：Ma Ning; Vandekerckhove Marie; Van Hoeck Nicole; Van Overwalle Frank^*

来源：Social Neuroscience, 2012, 7(6): 591-605.

DOI：10.1080/17470919.2012.686925

• Trait
• Behavior
• mPFC
• TPJ

It has been suggested that the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) is involved in inferring immediate goals and intentions from behaviors, whereas the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) integrates social information, such as traits, at a more abstract level. To explore the differential role of the TPJ and mPFC, participants read several verbal descriptions about an agent. Embedded in a factorial design, in one-half of the trials (behavior condition), the agent was engaged in a simple goal-directed behavior, whereas in the other half this description was absent. In another half of the trials (trait condition), the participants had to answer a question about a trait of the agent, whereas in the other half the question was about the agent%26apos;s physical appearance. The results revealed that the dorsal mPFC was recruited when participants inferred the agent%26apos;s trait, irrespective of a behavioral description. In contrast, the TPJ, posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), anterior intraparietal sulcus, and premotor cortex were activated when goal-directed behavioral information was presented, irrespective of a trait question. These findings confirm that in a social context, the TPJ (and pSTS) is activated for understanding goal-directed behaviors, whereas the mPFC is involved in processing traits.

• 出版日期2012