A study for individual differences in social cognitive ability and its neurophysiological basis

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23530813
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Social psychology
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: WAKABAYASHI Akio 千葉大学, 文学部, 教授 (30175062)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: 社会的認知 / 心の理論 / 個人差 / 神経生理学的基盤 / 皮質活動

Research Abstract

We investigated neurophysiological basis of individual differences in social cognitive ability. The results showed that 1) brain activity for the period of ToM tasks are higher than those for the period of perspective-taking tasks on the right prefrontal area, 2) participants who scored high on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient showed no differences in brain activities between the periods for ToM tasks and perspective-taking tasks, 3) in typical developed participants level of brain activity in agentive perspective-taking task fell between those in ToM tasks and those in spatial perspective-taking task, but there was no differences between two perspective-taking task in high-AQ participants. In sum, the results suggested that some relationship between individual differences in social cognitive ability and neurophysiological activities in the brain. There is a possibility that individual differences in social cognitive ability links neurophysiological activities in prefrontal area.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] How are autism and schizotypy related?: Evidence from a non-clinical population (2013)
  • Author(s): Dinsdale, N.L., Hurd, P.L., Wakabayashi, A., Elliot, M., Crespi, B.J.
  • Journal Title: PLoS ONE Volume: 8 Pages: 1-10
  • DOI: 10.1371/e63316
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] The correlation between brain gray matter volume and empathizing and systemizing quotients in healthy children (2013)
  • Author(s): Sassa, Y., Taki, Y., Takeuchi, H., Hashizume, H., Asano, M., Asano, K., Wakabayashi, A., Kawashima, R.
  • Journal Title: NeuroImage Volume: 60 Pages: 2035-2041
  • DOI: 10.1016/1053-8119
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Sex differences in two fundamental cognitive domains : Empathizing and systemizing in children and adults (2012)
  • Author(s): Wakabayashi, A., Sasaki, J., Ogawa Y.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Individual Differences Volume: 33 Pages: 24-34
  • DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000058
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Do the traits of autism-spectrum overlap with those of schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder in the general population (2012)
  • Author(s): Wakabayashi, A., Baron-Cohen, S., Ashwin, C.
  • Journal Title: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders Volume: 6 Pages: 717-725
  • DOI: 10.1016/1750-9467
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] The Motion Picture Mind-Reading Test : Measuring individual differences of social cognitive ability in a young adult population in Japan (2012)
  • Author(s): Wakabayashi, A., Katsumata, A.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Individual Differences Volume: 32 Pages: 55-64
  • DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Determining differences in social cognition between high-functioning autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders using new advanced"mind-reading"task (2011)
  • Author(s): Kuroda, M., Wakabayashi, A., Uchiyama, T., Yoshida, Y., Koyama, T., Kamio, Y.
  • Journal Title: Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders Volume: 5 Pages: 554-561
  • DOI: 10.1016/1750-9647
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] The relationship between finger ridge count and cognitive abilities (2013)
  • Author(s): Nomoto, A., Wakabayashi, A.
  • Organizer: Biannual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences
  • Place of Presentation: Barcelona, Spain
  • Year and Date: 2013-07-22
• [Presentation] The relationship between fetal Testosterone level and personality : Finger ridge count (FRC) and five-factor domains (2012)
  • Author(s): Nomoto, A., Wakabayashi, A.
  • Organizer: European Conference on Personality
  • Place of Presentation: Trieste, Italy
  • Year and Date: 2012-07-11