Specifying the brain anatomy underlying temporo-parietal junction activations for theory of mind: A review using probabilistic atlases from different imaging modalities

Abstract

In this quantitative review, we specified the anatomical basis of brain activity reported in the Temporo-Parietal Junction (TPJ) in Theory of Mind (ToM) research. Using probabilistic brain atlases, we labeled TPJ peak coordinates reported in the literature. This was carried out for four different atlas modalities: (i) gyral-parcellation, (ii) sulco-gyral parcellation, (iii) cytoarchitectonic parcellation and (iv) connectivity-based parcellation. In addition, our review distinguished between two ToM task types (false belief and social animations) and a nonsocial task (attention reorienting). We estimated the mean probabilities of activation for each atlas label, and found that for all three task types part of TPJ activations fell into the same areas: (i) Angular Gyrus (AG) and Lateral Occpital Cortex (LOC) in terms of a gyral atlas, (ii) AG and Superior Temporal Sulcus (STS) in terms of a sulco-gyral atlas, (iii) areas PGa and PGp in terms of cytoarchitecture and (iv) area TPJp in terms of a connectivity-based parcellation atlas. Beside these commonalities, we also found that individual task types showed preferential activation for particular labels. Main findings for the right hemisphere were preferential activation for false belief tasks in AG/PGa, and in Supramarginal Gyrus (SMG)/PFm for attention reorienting. Social animations showed strongest selective activation in the left hemisphere, specifically in left Middle Temporal Gyrus (MTG). We discuss how our results (i.e., identified atlas structures) can provide a new reference for describing future findings, with the aim to integrate different labels and terminologies used for studying brain activity around the TPJ. Hum Brain Mapp 38:4788-4805, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

From automata to animate beings: the scope and limits of attributing socialness to artificial agents

“…Further evidence for MPFC‐mediated self‐other equivalence comes from studies on self/other identification with a virtual avatar or trust during interactions with an artificial agent . Similarly, a wealth of evidence from human–human interaction supports the notion of a crucial role of the TPJ in inferring the mental states of others, in differentiating the self from others during joint attention and perspective taking tasks, as well when making judgments of in‐group versus out‐group members …”

“…While these findings complement previously discussed findings of the role of the PPN, it is important to note that perception of social animations also engages brain activity beyond this network. For example, the goal‐directed movement of simple shapes triggers activation in the anterior intraparietal sulcus, part of the AON, similar to human goal‐directed movements, and social animations can be used to functionally localize the ToM network and robustly activate the TPJ …”

Neural and Psychological Predictors of Cognitive Enhancement and Impairment from Neurostimulation

“…We study the association between functional lateralization and neurostimulation responsiveness by focusing on the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), which has received considerable interest in recent years as its nexus role in attention, memory, language, and social cognition . TPJ, especially the right TPJ, is a vital hub of the social brain .…”

“…Analysis of raw measures such as response time and accuracy with full factors was reported in the Supporting Information. Individual stimulation responsiveness was calculated for each participants using Equations(5)and(6).…”

Role of the right temporoparietal junction in intergroup bias in trust decisions

“…The TPJ is involved in multiple cognitive functions (Alkire, Levitas, Warnell, & Redcay, ; Baumgartner, Dahinden, Gianotti, & Knoch, ; Donaldson et al, ; Fujino, Yamasaki, et al, ; Mars et al, ; Soutschek et al, ). In particular, the right TPJ plays a key role in social cognition, such as perspective taking (Krall et al, ; Schurz, Tholen, Perner, Mars, & Sallet, ; Tei et al, ), moral decision‐making (Bitsch, Berger, Nagels, Falkenberg, & Straube, ; Chen, Decety, Huang, Chen, & Cheng, ; Tei et al, , ; Young, Camprodon, Hauser, Pascual‐Leone, & Saxe, ), and strategic social behavior (Hampton, Bossaerts, & O'Doherty, ; Hill et al, ). Significantly, previous fMRI studies have shown that the right TPJ plays a vital role in differentiating between in‐group and out‐group members in judgments and behavior (Baumgartner et al, ; Falk et al, ; Wu et al, ).…”