The Role of the Pre Frontal Cortex in Social Cognition

Group 5Alicia Iafonaro Alyona Koneva

Barbara KimIsaac Del Rio

Table 2 SummaryData was collected using fMRI studies,lesion studies, and TMS.

Levels of social cognition and moral judgement

Definition Implicit or explicit

Social Perception Process of forming impressions of individuals

Implicit

Attribution Forming explanations for other peoples behavior

Both

Categorization Stereotypes/ schemas

Implicit

Predictive processes

Future planning and predicting behavior

Mostly explicit

“Pre Frontal Cortex “Vital to Social Cognition”

• It is reasonable to conclude that social cognition would be impossible without a proper functioning pre frontal cortex.

• We learn that much of social cognition is an implicit process in nature, yet, can prove to be explicit in more ambiguous events.

SECs provide a us with a framework to evaluate

complex cognitive processes

•

Structured Extent Complexes (SECs)•Are composed of multiple schemas (cognitive scripts) with the addition of goal orientation, and connected with emotions and desires. •It is believed that schema are located in the medial PFC and provide a foundation to control how we interact with people. • SECs provide a method to evaluate how different brain regions function and interact with one another. •The SEC framework provides a comprehensive view of how a given social context can activate and integrate schemas throughout the PFC that enable individuals to assess their social/moral situations and make predictions that satisfy personal goals in socially and morally appropriate ways either extremely quickly or more deliberately.

The multiple regions of the PFC make essential contributions to social and moral behavior. For example, the DLPFC is involved in goal-directed behavior,

but when both the DLPFC and ACC process together they can do different: evaluate and correct planning errors that are not working towards achieving

the intended goal. The PFC region of the brain is complex and interconnected. The PFC specializes by region, and while regions have some task specificity, the interactions between regions of the PFC combine to create different cognitive

processes than either region can do alone. The multiple regions of the PFC make essential contributions to social and moral behavior.

For example, evidence shows the DLPFC is involved in goal-directed behavior.

•

Neural regions involvedin social cognition overlap with those involved

in moral judgment, including the medialPFC and DLPFC.

Hierarchical Structure

• The authors are referring to the hierarchical structures within the neural regions of the prefrontal cortex.

• It is posited that, while there is neuroconnectivity amongst regions of the brain, the brain largely runs using two processes, implicit and explicit.

• Implicit processes are quick and easy, they do not require a lot of time to gather information from other regions of the brain to make a particular assessment.

• Ex. Facial recognition• Explicit processes are more thought out and need more

information from other regions of the brain in order to evaluate what is being looked at or what is being thought of.

• Ex. Introspective perceptions and attributions of one’s self and others.

Advantages vs. Disadvantages using Complex Representations

• Inhibits impulsive behaviors

• Supervening role in decision making

• Activates potential consequences in the future – foresight and action planning.

• May cause social problems in regards to the way people interact and perceive one another.

Implicit vs. Explicit Processes

Implicit - requires minimal cognitive effort, happens quickly

Explicit - can be accessed consciously, allows for deliberation and rational thinking.

Both processes are equally important and both are used in our everyday lives.

The amygdala does not process complex abstract representations.

Maybe Someday…• Just like every other part in our

body our brain has changed through the process of evolution.

• As the brain continues to evolve someday it might have a mechanism that will allows us to use social and moral cognition without complex representations.

• That mechanism will be a part of the brain composed of SECs that will use simple information stored in the PFC.

• It will provide advantages in social and nonsocial situations, and will improve our use of language.

What’s Next for Our Brain?

• Children are introduced to technology at an early age.

• This “addiction” can affect brain development.

• Excess use of technology might lead to devolution of the brain.