Abstract
While previous aging studies have focused on particular components of social perception (e.g., theory of mind, self-referencing),
little is known about age-related differences specifically for the neural basis of perception of affiliation and isolation.
This study investigates age-related similarities and differences in the neural basis of affiliation and isolation. Participants
viewed images of affiliation (groups engaged in social interaction) and isolation (lone individuals), as well as nonsocial
stimuli (e.g., landscapes), while making pleasantness judgments and undergoing functional neuroimaging (BOLD fMRI). Results
indicated age-related similarities in response to affiliation and isolation in recruitment of regions involved in theory of
mind and self-referencing (e.g., temporal pole, medial prefrontal cortex). Yet age-related differences also emerged in response
to affiliation and isolation in regions implicated in the theory of mind, as well as self-referencing. Specifically, in response
to isolation versus affiliation images, older adults showed greater recruitment than did younger adults of the temporal pole,
a region that is important for retrieval of personally relevant memories utilized to understand others’ mental states. Furthermore,
in response to images of affiliation versus isolation, older adults showed greater recruitment than did younger adults of
the precuneus, a region implicated in self-referencing. We suggest that age-related divergence in neural activation patterns
underlying judgments of scenes depicting isolation versus affiliation may indicate that older adults’ theory of mind processes
are driven by retrieval of isolation-relevant information. Moreover, older adults’ greater recruitment of the precuneus for
affiliation versus isolation suggests that the positivity bias for emotional information may extend to social information
involving affiliation.
little is known about age-related differences specifically for the neural basis of perception of affiliation and isolation.
This study investigates age-related similarities and differences in the neural basis of affiliation and isolation. Participants
viewed images of affiliation (groups engaged in social interaction) and isolation (lone individuals), as well as nonsocial
stimuli (e.g., landscapes), while making pleasantness judgments and undergoing functional neuroimaging (BOLD fMRI). Results
indicated age-related similarities in response to affiliation and isolation in recruitment of regions involved in theory of
mind and self-referencing (e.g., temporal pole, medial prefrontal cortex). Yet age-related differences also emerged in response
to affiliation and isolation in regions implicated in the theory of mind, as well as self-referencing. Specifically, in response
to isolation versus affiliation images, older adults showed greater recruitment than did younger adults of the temporal pole,
a region that is important for retrieval of personally relevant memories utilized to understand others’ mental states. Furthermore,
in response to images of affiliation versus isolation, older adults showed greater recruitment than did younger adults of
the precuneus, a region implicated in self-referencing. We suggest that age-related divergence in neural activation patterns
underlying judgments of scenes depicting isolation versus affiliation may indicate that older adults’ theory of mind processes
are driven by retrieval of isolation-relevant information. Moreover, older adults’ greater recruitment of the precuneus for
affiliation versus isolation suggests that the positivity bias for emotional information may extend to social information
involving affiliation.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.3758/s13415-012-0085-y
- Authors
- Janelle N. Beadle, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
- Carolyn Yoon, Marketing Department, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Angela H. Gutchess, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
- Journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Online ISSN 1531-135X
- Print ISSN 1530-7026