An integrative neural model of social perception, action observation, and theory of mind
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In the field of social neuroscience, major branches of research have been instrumental in describing independent components of typical and aberrant social information processing, but the field as a whole lacks a comprehensive model that integrates different branches. We review existing research related to the neural basis of three key neural systems underlying social information processing: social perception, action observation, and theory of mind. We propose an integrative model that unites these three processes and highlights the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), which plays a central role in all three systems. Furthermore, we integrate these neural systems with the dual system account of implicit and explicit social information processing. Large-scale meta-analyses based on Neurosynth confirmed that the pSTS is at the intersection of the three neural systems. Resting-state functional connectivity analysis with 1000 subjects confirmed that the pSTS is connected to all other regions in these systems. The findings presented in this review are specifically relevant for psychiatric research especially disorders characterized by social deficits such as autism spectrum disorder.
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These brain regions overlap with areas typically considered important in language, social communication, self-referential and social cognition, pain and emotion.
“These brain regions overlap with areas typically considered important in processes such as language, social communication, self-referential and social cognition, pain and emotion.35, 36, 37, 38, 39”
From Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women (2017) · cites this paper as [37]
Parents show activation in empathy-based circuitry including anterior insula and anterior cingulate gyrus when responding to infants' cries or pain.
“Parents also show activation in empathy-based circuitry, including anterior insula and anterior cingulate gyrus, when responding to infants’ cries or pain (Yang et al. 2015).”
From A precision medicine approach to oxytocin trials (2017) · cites this paper as Yang et al. 2015
Understanding infants' subtle and nonverbal cues requires activity of a mentalizing network including superior temporal sulcus, posterior cingulate gyrus, temporal parietal junction, and vmPFC.
“Understanding infants’ subtle and nonverbal cues requires the activity of a mentalizing network, including the superior temporal sulcus, the posterior cingulate gyrus, temporal parietal junction, and vmPFC (Kanat et al. 2014; Yang et al. 2015).”
From A precision medicine approach to oxytocin trials (2017) · cites this paper as Yang et al. 2015
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References 189 · Cited by 263
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Nichols S Stich SP 2003 Mindreading: An Integrated Account of Pretence, Self-awareness, and Understanding Other Minds OUP Oxford
- Authors
- Yang, D. Y.-J., Rosenblau, G., Keifer, C., & Pelphrey, K. A.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Yang, Daniel Y.-J.
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-04
- Volume
- 51
- Pages
- 263-275
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4940188
- OpenAlex
- W1967357157
- Cited by
- 263
- References
- 189
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 12
- FWCI
- 4.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Yale Child Study Center
- Autism Speaks Meixner Postdoctoral Fellowship in Translational Research (9284)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Keywords
- social perception, action observation, theory of mind, posterior superior temporal sulcus, dual-process models, resting-state functional connectivity, autism spectrum disorder, social dysfunction, social information processing
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Humans, Models, Neurological, Motion Perception, Social Perception, Theory of Mind
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