This is the first study to explore the relationship between Empathizing-Systemizing (E-S) theory that provides an account of sex differences in human cognition and dual process theories of cognition. 68 undergraduates undertook both performance and self-report assessments of Empathizing, intuition, Systemizing and deliberation. A fast (500ms) and slow (5000ms) version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (RMET) was included to explore the effects of rapid presentation on emotional stimuli. Consistent with E-S theory, sex differences were found in Empathizing (favouring females) and Systemizing (favouring males). Females were also found to be more intuitive and males more deliberative for performance, but not self-report, assessments of intuition and deliberation. Empathizing significantly positively correlated with intuition and negatively with deliberation. Conversely, Systemizing significantly positively correlated with deliberation and negatively with intuition (trend). This pattern was replicated in a study of 65 participants from the general population. The exception was the RMET which had no significant sex differences or correlates (fast or slow). The implications for considering both dual process theories of cognition and E-S theory are discussed, with a focus upon the implications for Autism Spectrum Disorder and psychosis. Highlights: Sex differences were identified in Empathizing and intuition favouring females. Sex differences were identified in Systemizing and deliberation favouring males. Empathizing was related to intuition and Systemizing was related to deliberation. Differences between self-report and performance measures were identified.
Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder have been found to have deficits in metacognition that could impact upon their learning. This study explored metacognitive monitoring in 28 (23 males and 5 females) participants with autism spectrum disorder and 56 (16 males and 40 females) typically developing controls who were being educated at the same level. Participants were asked a series of mathematics questions. Based upon previous research, after each question they were asked two metacognitive questions: (1) whether they thought they had got the answer correct or not (or 'don't know') and (2) whether they meant to get the answer correct or not (or 'don't know'). Participants with autism spectrum disorder were significantly more likely than the typically developing group to erroneously think that they had got an incorrect answer correct. Having made an error, those with autism spectrum disorder were also significantly more likely to report that they had meant to make the error. Different patterns in the types of errors made were also identified between the two groups. Deficits in metacognition were identified for the autism spectrum disorder group in the learning of mathematics. This is consistent with metacognitive research from different contexts and the implications for supporting learning in autism spectrum disorder are discussed.
In innate immune cells, intracellular sensors such as cGAS-STING stimulate type I/III interferon (IFN) expression, which promotes antiviral defense and immune activation. However, how IFN-I/III expression is controlled in adaptive cells is poorly understood. Here, we identify a transcriptional rheostat orchestrated by RELA that confers human T cells with innate-like abilities to produce IFN-I/III. Despite intact cGAS-STING signaling, IFN-I/III responses are stunted in CD4+ T cells compared with dendritic cells or macrophages. We find that lysine residues in RELA tune the IFN-I/III response at baseline and in response to STING stimulation in CD4+ T cells. This response requires positive feedback driven by cGAS and IRF7 expression. By combining RELA with IRF3 and DNA demethylation, IFN-I/III production in CD4+ T cells reaches levels observed in dendritic cells. IFN-I/III production provides self-protection of CD4+ T cells against HIV infection and enhances the elimination of tumor cells by CAR T cells. Therefore, innate-like functions can be tuned and leveraged in human T cells.
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