The neurobiology of social cognition

• Authors: Keri Sz.
• Languages of publication: HU

Abstracts

EN

Many aspects of our everyday cognition are concerned with the representation of self and others. How are we able to generate intentional actions and distinguish that from external stimuli? What is the role of inner body signals in the emergence of self-consciousness and perception of social signals? What are the bases of intersubjectivity and empathy? How can we represent the beliefs and intentions of others independently of the physical reality (mentalization)? Novel data from neuropsychology and functional neuroimaging demonstrate that functional connections between prefrontal cortex and sensory areas are critical in the discrimination of internally generated actions from external events. Specific brain areas, such as the amygdala and the posterior superior temporal cortex, participate in the processing of social signals, whereas the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex is crucial for mentalization. Finally, mirror neurons, which show responses during intentional actions and observation of others performing those actions, exist in many brain areas and establish the foundations of intersubjectivity and the biological roots of mimetic culture. Some cortical areas containing mirror neurons are also related to language processing. Discovering brain mechanisms of social cognition may change fundamental views about the philosophy of mind and may provide a new possibility to understand psychiatric disorders.

Keywords

EN

EMOTION; INTENTIONALITY; MENTALIZATION; MIRROR NEURONS; PREFRONTAL CORTEX; SELF; SOCIAL COGNITION

Discipline

• PSYCHOLOGY: PSYCHOLOGY

• Publisher: Hungarian Association for Psychology
• Journal: Magyar Pszichologiai Szemle (Hungarian Psychological Review)
• Year: 2005
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 433-455
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Keri Sz.

• Sz. Keri, no address given, contact the journal editor

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

06HUAAAA01222792