Projects per year
Abstract
Theory of mind (ToM) is an important skill that refers broadly to the capacity to understand the mental states of others. A large number of neuroimaging studies have focused on identifying the functional brain regions involved in ToM, but many important questions remain with respect to the neural networks implicated in specific types of ToM tasks. In the present study, we conducted a series of activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analyses on 144 datasets (involving 3150 participants) to address these questions. The ALE results revealed common regions shared across all ToM tasks and broader task parameters, but also some important dissociations. In terms of commonalities, consistent activation was identified in the medial prefrontal cortex and bilateral temporoparietal junction. On the other hand, ALE contrast analyses on our dataset, as well as meta-analytic connectivity modelling (MACM) analyses on the BrainMap database, indicated that different types of ToM tasks reliably elicit activity in unique brain areas. Our findings provide the most accurate picture to date of the neural networks that underpin ToM function.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 276-291 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews |
Volume | 65 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2016 |
Keywords
- Activation likelihood estimation
- FMRI
- Medial prefrontal cortex
- Meta-analytic connectivity modelling
- Temporoparietal junction
- Theory of mind
Projects
- 3 Finished
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How do we become aware of stimuli in our spatial environment?
Molenberghs, P.
Australian Research Council (ARC)
1/01/15 → 31/12/17
Project: Research
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function
Egan, G., Rosa, M., Lowery, A., Stuart, G., Arabzadeh, E., Skafidas, E., Ibbotson, M., Petrou, S., Paxinos, G., Mattingley, J., Garrido, M., Sah, P. K., Robinson, P. A., Martin, P., Grunert, U., Tanaka, K., Mitra, P., Johnson, G., Diamond, M., Margrie, T., Leopold, D., Movshon, J., Markram, H., Victor, J., Hill, S. & Jirsa, V. K.
Australian National University (ANU), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zürich) (Federal Institute of Technology Zurich), Australian Research Council (ARC), Karolinska Institutet (Karolinska Institute), Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (trading as QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute), Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) , Monash University, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales (UNSW), University of Queensland , University of Sydney, Monash University – Internal University Contribution, NIH - National Institutes of Health (United States of America), Cornell University, New York University, Francis Crick Institute, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (International School for Advanced Studies), Duke University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, RIKEN
25/06/14 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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The neuroscience of group membership and its effects on action perception and empathy.
Molenberghs, P.
Australian Research Council (ARC)
3/01/13 → 31/12/15
Project: Research