Social Cognition Flashcards
Self-Reference Effect
We have a better memory for information processed in relation to ourselves
Why do have this self-reference effect?
-The self is a unique cognitive structure that promotes processing that is distinct to processing other cognitive structures
-We simply have more knowledge about the self which encourages more elaborate coding of information relating to ourselves
Where is there greater activation for self-referential processing?
Medial prefrontal cortex
Sentinel Hypothesis
Our default network of thinking of when we’re “resting” is driven by self-referential thinking. This could be so we have a constant idea of whats going on around us.
What structure is responsible for focusing attention on positive information about the self?
The most ventral portion of the anterior cingulate cortex.
TPJ
Tempoparietal Junction
What is the TPJ involved in?
Self processing and integrating multisensory body-related information which plays a key role in the feeling of embodiment.
Xenomelia
A condition where people experience a lifelong desire for the amputation of one of their limbs.
Reason for xenomelia?
Touch on the undesired limb elicited no response in the right superior parietal lobe, which is where somatosensory, visual and vestibular signals converge and is critical for sensorimotor integration. This suggests that the limb has not been incorporated into their body image and they may not feel ownership of a limb
Empathic accuracy
Refers to a perceivers ability to accurately infer a person’s feelings
Mental State Attribution Theory
We acquire a common psychology of others to infer their thoughts. From our theories of what we know about others past, current situation, culture etc, we infer their mental state.
What lobe is usually involved with social cognition?
The frontal lobe
What regions are used in self referential thinking???!@?!?
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)
ventromedial Prefrontal cortes (vmPFC)
Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC)
Medial and lateral parietal cortex
Craik and Lockhart’s theory
The depth of processing profoundly affects the storage of information
Information processed in a more meaningful way is remembered better
Why does self-knowledge appear to be distributed and reliant on multiple brain systems?
Damage to the medial temporal lobe can damage somones ability to access episodic memories without impacting other systems for self-knowledge