A map for social navigation in the human brain
Open accessAbstract
SUMMARY Deciphering the neural mechanisms of social behavior has propelled the growth of social neuroscience. The exact computations of the social brain, however, remain elusive. Here we investigated how the human brain tracks ongoing changes in social relationships using functional neuroimaging. Participants were lead characters in a role-playing game in which they were to find a new home and a job through interactions with virtual cartoon characters. We found that a two-dimensional geometric model of social relationships, a “social space” framed by power and affiliation, predicted hippocampal activity. Moreover, participants who reported better social skills showed stronger covariance between hippocampal activity and “movement” through “social space.” The results suggest that the hippocampus is crucial for social cognition, and imply that beyond framing physical locations, the hippocampus computes a more general, inclusive, abstract, and multidimensional cognitive map consistent with its role in episodic memory.
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
Using fMRI during a “choose-your-own-adventure” social role-playing game, the authors found that hippocampal activity tracked a two-dimensional social space framed by power and affiliation, represented as a vector from the participant to each character. Stronger hippocampal tracking correlated with better self-reported social skills, suggesting the hippocampus supports an abstract, egocentric cognitive map for social navigation.
Key findings
- Left hippocampal BOLD signal correlated with the vector angle representing power modulated by affiliation during choice trials, but not with narrative or option regressors alone.
- Hippocampal angle-related activity correlated negatively with social avoidance (Pearson’s r = −0.52, p = 0.03) and neuroticism (r = −0.69, p = 0.002), and positively with conscientiousness (r = 0.53, p = 0.03; did not survive multiple-comparison correction).
- The precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex tracked vector length, interpreted as absolute social distance, and did not correlate with questionnaire scores.
- Alternative models using independent power and affiliation axes, conjunction, simple interaction, non-egocentric coordinates, or scrambled participant coordinates did not produce significant hippocampal correlates at the corrected threshold.
Methods
- 18 healthy adults (mean age = 29.7 ± 3.4 years, range 24–34, 10 males) completed a 26-min fMRI role-playing game as lead character interacting with six cartoon characters; choices changed power or affiliation with each character.
- Social relationships were modeled in polar coordinates: vector angle = power modulated by affiliation relative to the participant; vector length = social distance. These values served as parametric regressors during options/choice trials in a random-effects GLM.
- Whole-brain analyses were corrected for multiple comparisons using cluster-size thresholding to FWE p < 0.05; post-task questionnaires assessed social anxiety, self-efficacy, personality, and subjective social status, and a memory test assessed storyline recall.
Limitations
- The paper states that it did not compare egocentric and allocentric tasks directly and therefore cannot distinguish those claims directly; it also states that methods did not explicitly vary mnemonic demands.
- Evident from the text: the sample was small (n = 18) and drawn from medically and psychiatrically healthy adults, so generalization to clinical or broader populations is limited.
- Evident from the text: social relationships were with fictional cartoon characters in a controlled game, and the social-skill findings are correlational, so causal direction and real-world social behavior remain untested.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 44 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingown data
A two-dimensional geometric model of social relationships, a "social space" framed by power and affiliation, predicted hippocampal activity.
“We found that a two-dimensional geometric model of social relationships, a “social space” framed by power and affiliation, predicted hippocampal activity.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Participants who reported better social skills showed stronger covariance between hippocampal activity and "movement" through "social space."
“Moreover, participants who reported better social skills showed stronger covariance between hippocampal activity and “movement” through “social space.””
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingnone given
The hippocampus constructs an abstract geometric representation of social relationships during social interactions.
“Here we show that the hippocampus constructs an abstract geometric representation of social relationships during social interactions.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingnone given
None of these regions was activated during the narrative trials.
“None of these regions was activated during the narrative trials.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
Hippocampal parametric activity associated with the angle values (power modulated by affiliation) correlated positively with conscientiousness (r = 0.53, p = 0.03; this correlation did not survive correction for multiple comparisons).
“Hippocampal parametric activity associated with the angle values (power modulated by affiliation) correlated negatively with social avoidance (Pearson’s r = −0.52, p = 0.03) and neuroticism (r = −0.69, p = 0.002), and correlated positively with conscientiousness (r = 0.53, p = 0.03; this correlation did not survive correction for multiple comparisons).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Findingown data
Placing the coordinates at the end of the narrative did not predict BOLD activation even at a liberal statistical threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected).
“Placing the coordinates at the end of the narrative did not predict BOLD activation even at a liberal statistical threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
BOLD signal in the left hippocampus correlated with the vector angle, signifying the characters' location in social space as the interaction between their power and affiliation relative to the participant.
“Consistent with our prediction, we found that blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the left hippocampus correlated with the vector angle, signifying the characters’ location in social space as the interaction between their power and affiliation relative to the participant (Figure 3A).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: All characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis and at the same level on the power axis.
- Findingown data
Hippocampal parametric activity associated with the angle values (power modulated by affiliation) correlated negatively with social avoidance (Pearson's r = −0.52, p = 0.03).
“Hippocampal parametric activity associated with the angle values (power modulated by affiliation) correlated negatively with social avoidance (Pearson’s r = −0.52, p = 0.03) and neuroticism (r = −0.69, p = 0.002), and correlated positively with conscientiousness (r = 0.53, p = 0.03; this correlation did not survive correction for multiple comparisons).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The hippocampal BOLD response did not correlate with the narrative or options regressors.
“In contrast, the hippocampal BOLD response did not correlate with the narrative or options regressors (Figure 3B; see below additional analyses testing alternative hypotheses).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The affiliation axis regressor did not predict significant BOLD activation even at a liberal statistical threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected).
“The affiliation axis regressor did not predict significant BOLD activation even at a liberal statistical threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Memory performance for all characters was significantly above chance.
“Memory performance for all characters was significantly above chance”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The simple interaction analysis yielded no significant correlates at the threshold used for the main model analysis (p < 0.001, FWE corrected).
“The simple interaction analysis yielded no significant correlates at the threshold used for the main model analysis (p < 0.001, FWE corrected).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
These correlations were unique to the hippocampus.
“These correlations were unique to the hippocampus.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Across participants, the subjective and game-computed locations were significantly closer to one another than the distance between the game and randomly assigned locations (paired two-tailed t test, p < 0.05).
“Across participants, the subjective and game-computed locations were significantly closer to one another than the distance between the game and randomly assigned locations (paired two-tailed t test, p < 0.05).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Three other brain regions showed BOLD correlations with the vector angle.
“Three other brain regions showed BOLD correlations with the vector angle (Figure S2).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
The left hippocampus mean percent signal change was higher when the character was perceived as having more power modulated by affiliation (cosine θ closer to 1).
“The left hippocampus mean percent signal change was higher when the character was perceived as having more power modulated by affiliation (cosine θ closer to 1).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
No significant BOLD correlates emerged for the scrambled parametric regressors even at a liberal statistical threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected).
“No significant BOLD correlates emerged for the scrambled parametric regressors even at a liberal statistical threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Activity in the left middle temporal gyrus did not distinguish between narrative and options trials.
“its activity did not distinguish between narrative and options trials”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The three other brain regions that tracked the vector angle did not correlate with the questionnaire scores.
“The three other brain regions that tracked the vector angle did not correlate with the questionnaire scores.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The power axis regressor revealed one active region in the left middle temporal gyrus.
“The power axis regressor revealed one active region in the left middle temporal gyrus (Figure 3D).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The conjunction analysis found no BOLD signal correlates even at a liberal threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected).
“The conjunction analysis found no BOLD signal correlates even at a liberal threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
During social interactions, the hippocampus represented relationships with other people as their location in a two-dimensional space centered on the self and framed by power and affiliation.
“During these social interactions, the hippocampus represented relationships with other people as their location in a two-dimensional space centered on the self and framed by power and affiliation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: All characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis and at the same level on the power axis.
- Findingown data
A whole-brain analysis found one region that tracked vector length: the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC; BA 31).
“A whole-brain analysis found one region that tracked vector length: the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC; BA 31; Figure 5A).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: All characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis and at the same level on the power axis.
- Findingown data
The participants' mean memory accuracy overall was 88.9%.
“The participants’ mean memory accuracy overall was 88.9%.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Hippocampal parametric activity associated with the angle values (power modulated by affiliation) correlated negatively with neuroticism (r = −0.69, p = 0.002).
“Hippocampal parametric activity associated with the angle values (power modulated by affiliation) correlated negatively with social avoidance (Pearson’s r = −0.52, p = 0.03) and neuroticism (r = −0.69, p = 0.002), and correlated positively with conscientiousness (r = 0.53, p = 0.03; this correlation did not survive correction for multiple comparisons).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The correlation between hippocampal activity and social locations was higher in participants who reported better social skills.
“the correlation between hippocampal activity and social locations was higher in participants who reported better social skills”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Hippocampal activity varied with social distance defined by a vector from the participant to a character in an abstract space.
“Hippocampal activity varied with social distance defined by a vector from the participant to a character in an abstract space.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: All characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis and at the same level on the power axis.
- Findingown data
Changes in locations and distances between characters that could be detected as movement through an allocentric social space did not predict brain activity.
“Changes in locations and distances between characters that could be detected as movement through an allocentric social space (the “non-egocentric model” analysis above) did not predict brain activity”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Movement of characters with respect to the participant's egocentric view did predict brain activity.
“whereas movement of characters with respect to the participant’s egocentric view did”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The PCC/precuneus tracks a broader measure of social distance.
“whereas the PCC/precuneus tracks a broader measure of social distance”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Findingown data
The hippocampus tracks how we represent others in terms of the interaction between power and affiliation.
“The results showed that the hippocampus tracks how we represent others in terms of the interaction between power and affiliation, whereas the PCC/precuneus tracks a broader measure of social distance.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Rests on an assumption: Participants' subjective ratings of affiliation and power accurately reflect their internal social representations.
- Findingown data
Hippocampal BOLD activity predicted changes in subjective affiliation and power between people and fictional characters in a virtual role-playing game.
“Hippocampal BOLD activity predicted changes in subjective affiliation and power between people and fictional characters in a virtual role-playing game.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Rests on an assumption: Participants' subjective ratings of affiliation and power accurately reflect their internal social representations.
- Findingown data
The hippocampus tracks relationships within an egocentric, two-dimensional personal space framed by affiliation and power.
“we found that the hippocampus tracks relationships within an egocentric, two-dimensional personal space framed by affiliation and power.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Rests on an assumption: Participants' subjective ratings of affiliation and power accurately reflect their internal social representations.
- Findingown data
The fidelity of social tracking measured by hippocampal activity correlated with social and personality traits within the normal range of social function.
“the present results show that the fidelity of social tracking measured by hippocampal activity correlated with social and personality traits within the normal range of social function.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
Beyond framing physical locations, the hippocampus computes a more general, inclusive, abstract, and multidimensional cognitive map consistent with its role in episodic memory.
“beyond framing physical locations, the hippocampus computes a more general, inclusive, abstract, and multidimensional cognitive map consistent with its role in episodic memory.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The hippocampus is crucial for social cognition.
“The results suggest that the hippocampus is crucial for social cognition”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The left middle temporal gyrus did not specifically track power.
“indicating that it did not specifically track power”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
Neural tracking of social coordinates occurs at the time of choice.
“confirming that neural tracking of social coordinates occurs at the time of choice.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The interaction between power and affiliation signaled by the correlation between the vector angle and hippocampal activity may provide a more precise representation of social coordinates that helps guide specific social interactions.
“The interaction between power and affiliation signaled by the correlation between the vector angle and hippocampal activity may provide a more precise representation of social coordinates that helps guide specific social interactions.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Hippocampal dysfunction may contribute to maladaptive social behavior in previously unexpected ways.
“hippocampal dysfunction may contribute to maladaptive social behavior in previously unexpected ways.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The hippocampus constructs cognitive maps across domains that include, but are not limited to, two-dimensional Euclidean spaces.
“These findings suggest that the hippocampus constructs cognitive maps across domains that include, but are not limited to, two-dimensional Euclidean spaces”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Tolman, 1948 source
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationown data
A polar coordinate system, which reflects relative locations as a vector between two points, provides a better model for how the brain may be tracking social relationships.
“These results indicate that a polar coordinate system, which reflects relative locations as a vector between two points, provides a better model for how the brain may be tracking social relationships.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The hippocampus tracks social relationships from an egocentric point of view.
“The more precise correlations of hippocampal activity with specific social choices support the hypothesis that the hippocampus tracks social relationships from an egocentric point of view.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The locations computed from the participants' choices during the game reflected their subjective perception of power and affiliation attributed to each character.
“Thus, the locations computed from the participants’ choices during the game reflected their subjective perception of power and affiliation attributed to each character.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Episodic memories encoded by the hippocampus within abstract cognitive maps may guide social navigation.
“Episodic memories encoded by the hippocampus within abstract cognitive maps may guide social navigation”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
These studies describe social relationships using the same two dimensions of power and affiliation.
“These studies describe social relationships using the same two dimensions of power (dominance, aggression) and affiliation (reproductive ties, parental bonding, kinship).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Hippocampal function during social navigation appears to be linked to social and psychological wellbeing.
“Hippocampal function during social navigation, therefore, appears to be linked to social and psychological wellbeing.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Analogous models of social behavior apply to other species, including non-human primates, birds, bees, hyenas, and fish.
“Analogous models of social behavior apply to other species: non-human primates (Brent et al., 2013), birds (Fernald and Scharff, 2010), bees (Insel and Fernald, 2004), hyenas (Fernald, 2014), and fish (Fernald and Maruska, 2012).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked - Interpretationown data
Hippocampal BOLD signal during social navigation correlates with social skills and personality traits.
“Together, these findings suggest that hippocampal BOLD signal during social navigation correlates with social skills and personality traits.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Many of these disorders involve hippocampal dysfunction.
“Many of these disorders involve hippocampal dysfunction (Amaral et al., 2008; Nunes et al., 2009; Sheline, 2011; Sigurdsson et al., 2010).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked - Interpretationreasoning
Neuronal activity correlated with vector length represents the absolute psychological distance between ourselves and others.
“The neuronal activity correlated with vector length represents the absolute psychological distance between ourselves and others.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Interpretationown data
The results fit better to an egocentric than an allocentric model.
“Nonetheless, the results fit better to an egocentric than an allocentric model.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
'Finding our place' in a given social environment may be the outcome of navigating through a geometric representation of social relationships.
““Finding our place” in a given social environment may be the outcome of navigating through a geometric representation of social relationships.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Premisecitation
Individuals in higher power positions tend to feel more social distance between themselves and others than lower-power individuals.
“individuals in higher power positions tend to feel more social distance between themselves and others than lower-power individuals (Magee and Smith, 2013; Maglio et al., 2013; Tamir and Mitchell, 2011).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked - Interpretationreasoning
The brain represents social relationships in a multidimensional space.
“These observations, together with the present results, suggest that the brain represents social relationships in a multidimensional space”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Interpretationreasoning
Memory performance could not explain variations in the BOLD signal.
“could not explain variations in the BOLD signal”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The neural basis of social cognition can be described in terms of specific social computations within an abstract geometric framework.
“and that the neural basis of social cognition can be described in terms of specific social computations within an abstract geometric framework.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
Spatial descriptions of social location might reveal a mechanism of social cognition that locates others in a two-dimensional space of power and affiliation.
“Spatial descriptions of social location such as “she is above him,” or “he is closer to me,” might reveal a mechanism of social cognition that locates others in a two-dimensional space of power and affiliation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Interpretationown data
An impaired geometric representation of social space in the hippocampus may accompany social dysfunction across psychiatric populations.
“The results predict that an impaired geometric representation of social space in the hippocampus may accompany social dysfunction across psychiatric populations.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationcitation
The hippocampus has a broader role in relational memory, representing relationships between items and events that vary in many dimensions, including space, time, motivation, and abstract concepts.
“Our findings support a broader role for the hippocampus in relational memory, which represents the relationships between items and events that vary in many dimensions, including space, time, motivation, and abstract concepts (Eichenbaum and Cohen, 2014).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Eichenbaum and Cohen, 2014
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationreasoning
Navigating through social space may be relevant to many psychiatric disorders that impair social cognition.
“Navigating through social space may be relevant to the many psychiatric disorders that impair social cognition, such as sociopathy, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and autism.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
Social processing in the hippocampus is likely framed egocentrically.
“indicating that social processing in the hippocampus is likely framed egocentrically”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The results were best characterized as movement through a social space framed by power and affiliation that depended on active social choices, rather than the passive reception of social narratives.
“The results were best characterized as movement through a social space framed by power and affiliation that depended on active social choices, rather than the passive reception of social narratives.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Interpretationreasoning
Some social cognition deficits may be a consequence of hippocampal dysfunction and impaired social navigation.
“Some social cognition deficits may be a consequence of hippocampal dysfunction and impaired social navigation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The concept of social 'space' may reflect how the brain represents our position in the social world, beyond metaphorical description.
“This outcome suggests that beyond metaphorical description, the concept of social “space” may reflect how the brain represents our position in the social world.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- Interpretationreasoning
Hippocampal activity represents memories for social interactions as vector angles describing the power and affiliation relationships between ourselves and others in an abstract, multidimensional, egocentric memory space.
“we suggest that hippocampal activity represents memories for social interactions as vector angles describing the power and affiliation relationships between ourselves and others in an abstract, multidimensional, egocentric memory space.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
- May combine two claims. 21
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 37
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataTime to respond during the options trials did not correlate with the vector angle or the vector length regressors in any participant, precluding reaction time as an intervening factor.
“Time to respond during the options trials did not correlate with the vector angle or the vector length regressors in any participant (angle: mean r = −0.075, SD = 0.13, mean p value = 0.48; vector length: mean r = 0.051, SD = 0.10, mean p value = 0.51), precluding reaction time as an intervening factor.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe BOLD signal in the pre-SMA/dACC region did not correlate uniquely with the angle regressor, but also correlated with the non-parametric options regressor.
“The BOLD signal in this region did not correlate uniquely with the angle regressor, but also correlated with the non-parametric options regressor (Figure S2C), possibly reflecting the decision-making process and the motor response during the options trials.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
FindingreasoningThe options trials also engaged the left motor cortex, as expected due to participants' button pressing when making a choice.
“The options trials also engaged the left motor cortex, as expected due to participants’ button pressing when making a choice (Tables S2 and S3).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingown dataBOLD responses analyzed during narrative or options trials relative to baseline showed the expected engagement of visual and language areas.
“BOLD responses analyzed during narrative or options trials relative to baseline showed the expected engagement of visual and language areas (Tables S1 and S2).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataHippocampal activity tracked the relative interaction between power and affiliation assigned to each character (the vector angle), but did not predict the absolute social distance between the character and the participant (the vector length).
“Though hippocampal activity tracked the relative interaction between power and affiliation assigned to each character (the vector angle), it did not predict the absolute social distance between the character and the participant (the vector length).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: All characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis and at the same level on the power axis.
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe neural correlates of the non-egocentric angle revealed a pre-SMA/dACC region, the insula, and left inferior parietal lobule, but activity in these regions was strongly correlated with the non-parametric options condition.
“The neural correlates of this angle (p < 0.001, FWE corrected; Figure S3B) revealed a pre-SMA/dACC region (BA 32, overlapping with the region found for the vector angle from the point of view), as well as the insula (BA 13) and left inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), but activity in these regions was strongly correlated with the non-parametric options condition (Figure S3C).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe simple interaction model predicted activation in the prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum at a liberal threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected), but activity in these regions was better predicted by the non-parametric regressors of the narrative and options trials.
“This model predicted activation in the prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum at a liberal threshold (p < 0.05, FWE corrected), but activity in these regions was better predicted by the non-parametric regressors of the narrative and options trials, suggesting a more general role in the task.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe BOLD response in the PCC/precuneus did not correlate with the narrative or options regressors, nor did it correlate with social skills assessed by the questionnaire scores.
“The BOLD response in the PCC/precuneus did not correlate with the narrative or options regressors (Figure 5B), nor did it correlate with social skills assessed by the questionnaire scores.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
FindingcitationThe caudate showed enhanced BOLD responses bilaterally during the options trials, consistent with the well-documented role of this region in economic and social decision-making, and motor response.
“The caudate showed enhanced BOLD responses bilaterally during the options trials (Figure S4), consistent with the well-documented role of this region in economic and social decision-making, and motor response (Brosch and Sander, 2013; Fareri and Delgado, 2014; Guitart-Masip et al., 2014; Lim et al., 2011).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites Brosch and Sander, 2013
Not checked in the free run.
- cites Fareri and Delgado, 2014
Not checked in the free run.
- cites Guitart-Masip et al., 2014 source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationSeveral specific brain regions represent participants' assessment of power or affiliation.
“Several specific brain regions represent participants’ assessment of power (social status in the community) (Muscatell et al., 2012) or affiliation (familiarity of acquaintances) (Parkinson et al., 2014).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checkedProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThe interpersonal circle theory of personality first proposed a representation of social relationships as vectors in a two-dimensional space.
“The interpersonal circle theory of personality (Wiggins et al., 1989) first proposed a representation of social relationships as vectors in a two-dimensional space.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Wiggins et al., 1989 source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationRelational memory theory proposes that hippocampal computations localize an individual in abstract "life" spaces.
“Relational memory theory emphasizes this view, proposing that hippocampal computations localize an individual in abstract “life” spaces (Eichenbaum and Cohen, 2014).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Eichenbaum and Cohen, 2014
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Study design and conductnone givenThe type of social interaction (power or affiliation) and the value of each choice (more or less power or affiliation) were validated separately.
“The type of social interaction (power or affiliation) and the value of each choice (more or less power or affiliation) were validated separately (see Experimental Procedures).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationTwo main factors define social relationships: power and affiliation.
“Theories in social psychology and experimental evidence across species identify two main factors that define social relationships: power (competence, dominance, hierarchy, etc.) and affiliation (warmth, intimacy, trustworthiness, love, etc.).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checkedClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationThe hippocampal system is crucial for remembering locations in physical space in many species.
“The hippocampal system is crucial for remembering locations in physical space in many species (Bird and Burgess, 2008; Derdikman and Moser, 2010).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Bird and Burgess, 2008
Not checked in the free run.
- cites Derdikman and Moser, 2010
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThe stereotype content model used two similar axes to describe how we evaluate individuals in our social environment: an axis of warmth and an axis of competence.
“The stereotype content model (Fiske, 2012) used two similar axes to describe how we evaluate individuals in our social environment: an axis of warmth, our perception of the intentions of others, and an axis of competence, our perception of others’ ability to act on their intentions.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Fiske, 2012 source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
PremisecitationActivity in these regions shows affiliation and power as independent factors with separate neural computations.
“Activity in these regions shows affiliation and power as independent factors with separate neural computations.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Interpretationown dataThese regions are engaged during social interactions perhaps by contributing to choice selection or action.
“This activity pattern suggests that these regions are engaged during social interactions perhaps by contributing to choice selection or action.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
PremisecitationO'Keefe and Nadel emphasized that the hippocampus represents locations within two-dimensional Euclidean space in rats, and extended the idea to more general cognitive mapping functions in humans.
“O’Keefe and Nadel (1978) emphasized that the hippocampus represents locations within two-dimensional Euclidean space in rats, and extended the idea to more general cognitive mapping functions in humans.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites O’Keefe and Nadel (1978)
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationThe construal level theory suggests that common cognitive mechanisms process different types of psychological distance, whether temporal, spatial, or social.
“The construal level theory (Trope and Liberman, 2010) suggests that common cognitive mechanisms process different types of psychological distance, whether temporal, spatial, or social.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Trope and Liberman, 2010 source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe same neural mechanisms that support episodic memory and spatial navigation may compute general conceptual spaces and provide a novel approach for investigating the social brain.
“The same neural mechanisms that support episodic memory and spatial navigation may compute general conceptual spaces and provide a novel approach for investigating the social brain.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningIf hippocampal activity guides social navigation by locating people within a personal context framed by power and affiliation, then PCC/precuneus activity signals only the social distance between others and ourselves.
“By comparison, if hippocampal activity guides social navigation by locating people within a personal context framed by power and affiliation, then PCC/precuneus activity signals only the social distance between others and ourselves.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Study design and conductnone givenAll analyses were corrected for multiple comparisons using cluster size threshold ensuring FWE rate of p < 0.05.
“All analyses were corrected for multiple comparisons using cluster size threshold ensuring FWE rate of p < 0.05 (see Experimental Procedures for full details).”
- Also stated in: § fMRI Data Analysis · plain
“All analyses were corrected for multiple comparisons using cluster size threshold ensuring FWE rate of p < 0.05.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Also stated in: § fMRI Data Analysis · plain
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationSocial theories suggest that the interaction between power and affiliation, rather than each factor separately, is the major determinant of social perception.
“Social theories (Fiske, 2012; Todorov et al., 2008; Wiggins et al., 1989), however, suggest that the interaction between power and affiliation, rather than each factor separately, is the major determinant of social perception.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checkedMay combine two claims.
Study design and conductown dataThe metric quantified social relationships between the participant and each character during each social interaction as a function of power and affiliation, and corresponded well with the participant's subjective evaluations of the characters obtained after the social game.
“This metric quantified social relationships between the participant and each character during each social interaction as a function of power and affiliation, and corresponded well with the participant’s subjective evaluations of the characters obtained after the social game.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: All characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.
- The authors state this as an assumption: The starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis and at the same level on the power axis.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningNeural mechanisms for tracking power and affiliation during social interactions likely evolved early and were conserved in mammals.
“Because rapid assessment of kin and status is fundamental for reproduction and survival of social animals, neural mechanisms for tracking power and affiliation during social interactions likely evolved early and were conserved in mammals.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).
InterpretationreasoningPower and affiliation should be computed from an egocentric reference point.
“This view suggests that power and affiliation should be computed from an egocentric reference point.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThe face evaluation model proposed that two similar major axes, trustworthiness/valence and dominance/power, define face assessment.
“The face evaluation model also proposed that two similar major axes, trustworthiness/valence and dominance/power, define face assessment (Todorov et al., 2005, 2008).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Todorov et al., 2005, 2008
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
Interpretationown dataMemory demands and performance were relatively constant throughout the task.
“indicating that memory demands and performance were relatively constant throughout the task”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
PremisecitationPower and affiliation are forms of psychological distance.
“Power and affiliation are forms of psychological distance.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Trope and Liberman, 2010 source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
InterpretationreasoningA hippocampal social map could guide social navigation.
“Taken together, these ideas suggest that a hippocampal social map could guide social navigation.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenRepresentations of social events likely include other episodic or contextual information, including place and time as well as outcome expectancies, and social rules.
“Representations of social events likely include other episodic or contextual information, including place and time as well as outcome expectancies, and social rules.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductnone givenThe Institutional Review Board of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai approved the experimental protocol.
“The Institutional Review Board of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai approved the experimental protocol.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningPoor memory for the outcome of social interactions or relative insensitivity to affiliation or power cues could impair tracking others' social coordinates and impoverish the 'social map.'
“Poor memory for the outcome of social interactions or relative insensitivity to affiliation or power cues could impair tracking others’ social coordinates and impoverish the “social map.””
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationConstrual level theory predicts that subjective psychological distance is modified by changes in perceived distance across any number of physical and social dimensions.
“The construal level theory predicts that subjective psychological distance is modified by changes in perceived distance across any number of physical and social dimensions (Maglio et al., 2013; Tamir and Mitchell, 2011).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites Maglio et al., 2013 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites Tamir and Mitchell, 2011
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductown dataAll participants provided written informed consent.
“All participants provided written informed consent and were compensated for their participation.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationPrevious studies have identified unique brain regions involved in processing different kinds of psychological distance.
“Previous studies have identified unique brain regions involved in processing different kinds of psychological distance (Addis and Schacter, 2008; Brosch and Sander, 2013; Maglio et al., 2013; Mason and Just, 2011; Muscatell et al., 2012; Parkinson et al., 2014; Tamir and Mitchell, 2011; Weiler et al., 2010).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites Addis and Schacter, 2008
Not checked in the free run.
- cites Brosch and Sander, 2013
Not checked in the free run.
- cites Maglio et al., 2013 source
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).
InterpretationcitationThe hippocampus does not encode an allocentric representation of social relationships.
“suggesting that the hippocampus does not encode an allocentric representation of social relationships”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Kumaran and Maguire, 2005
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Study design and conductown dataThe present study did not compare egocentric and allocentric tasks and cannot distinguish these claims directly.
“The present study did not compare egocentric and allocentric tasks and cannot distinguish these claims directly.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductnone givenThe assignment of keys to choice direction was counterbalanced.
“The assignment of keys to choice direction was counterbalanced (for example, in some trials key 1 indicated choice of more power, whereas on other trials key 1 indicated the opposite direction).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Study design and conductown dataThe categorization of interactions as power or affiliation was validated before the study by eight volunteers, and only interactions with >75% agreement were used.
“The categorization was validated before the study by eight volunteers asked to make social choices, report their level of engagement with the storyline, and classify each interaction as power or affiliation. We used only interactions that were classified consistently (> 75% agreement between judges, or at least six out of eight judges).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductown dataThe task was gender balanced by alternating randomly between four versions of the story.
“The task was gender balanced by alternating randomly between four versions of the story, in which the genders of the characters were switched, maintaining an equal number of characters of each gender and assigned to equal numbers of male and female participants.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationNeither place nor grid fields are purely allocentric in rats, but are modulated by heading direction, so changes in position in particular directions strongly influence activity.
“Indeed, neither place nor grid fields are purely allocentric in rats, but are modulated by heading direction, so changes in position in particular directions strongly influence activity (Muller et al., 1994).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Muller et al., 1994 source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationThe cognitive map theory argued that the hippocampus encodes allocentric representations, i.e., signals locations of the individual relative to an environmental reference frame.
“The cognitive map theory argued that the hippocampus encodes allocentric representations, i.e., signals locations of the individual relative to an environmental reference frame (O’Keefe and Nadel, 1978).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites O’Keefe and Nadel, 1978
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThe cognitive map theory posits that the hippocampus supports memory by computing an allocentric or world-centered spatial framework that links items to locations in an environment.
“The cognitive map theory posits that the hippocampus supports memory by computing an allocentric or world-centered spatial framework that links items to locations in an environment (O’Keefe and Nadel, 1978).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites O’Keefe and Nadel, 1978
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationA previous fMRI study reported higher correlation of hippocampal activity to memory for where people interacted than to their social relationships.
“a previous fMRI study that manipulated spatial and relational variables (Kumaran and Maguire, 2005) reported higher correlation of hippocampal activity to memory for where people interacted (whether or not they lived physically closer) than to their social relationships (whether or not they knew one another)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Kumaran and Maguire, 2005
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationThe relational memory theory suggests that the hippocampus computes a more general framework that links items and events in a 'memory space' that includes temporal and personal as well as spatial context.
“The relational memory theory suggests that the hippocampus computes a more general framework that links items and events in a “memory space” that includes temporal and personal as well as spatial context (Eichenbaum, 2004; Eichenbaum et al., 1999).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checkedClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationMore recent work suggests that the hippocampus constructs spatially coherent scenes that are representative egocentrically.
“More recent work suggests that the hippocampus constructs spatially coherent scenes that are representative egocentrically (Maguire and Mullally, 2013).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Maguire and Mullally, 2013
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
InterpretationreasoningMemories for social events help inform sense of empowerment, obedience, and other aspects of social cognition that are likely computed by other brain regions.
“Memories for social events in turn help inform sense of empowerment, obedience, and other aspects of social cognition that are likely computed by other brain regions.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductown dataThe final analysis included 18 medically and psychiatrically healthy adults.
“The final analysis included 18 medically and psychiatrically healthy adults (mean age = 29.7 years, age range = 24–34 years, 10 males).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
The authors state this as an assumption.
All characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.
“Thus, all characters were assumed to acquire locations in a participant’s social space during the first interaction, and from then on change power and affiliation with respect to the participant.”
The authors state this as an assumption.
The starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis and at the same level on the power axis.
“Because we measured relational distance, we ascribed a common origin for all presented characters: the starting point of each character in relation to the subject was distant from the participant’s point of view on the affiliation axis (reflecting a neutral distance and allowing the character to move toward or away from the participant across interactions), and at the same level on the power axis”
The paper relies on this without support.
The virtual role-playing game elicits social cognitive processes comparable to real-world social interactions.
“To create a naturalistic paradigm of social encounters, we wrote a storyline (see below) using the principles of role-playing games and resembling a “choose-your-own-adventure” game.”
“The participants were told they would be playing a virtual social game in the scanner, and choosing how to interact with a set of characters by using a button box.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Participants' subjective ratings of affiliation and power accurately reflect their internal social representations.
“we asked the participants to distribute the dots according to their subjective evaluation of the characters’ position relative to themselves.”
“Hippocampal BOLD activity predicted changes in subjective affiliation and power between people and fictional characters in a virtual role-playing game.”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
There is preliminary evidence that social relationships may be represented through a hippocampal map.
“as well as preliminary evidence that social relationships may also be represented through a hippocampal map (Tavares et al., 2015).”
From Toward an integration of deep learning and neuroscience (2016) · cites this paper as Tavares et al., 2015
Cites
An Integrative Theory of Prefrontal Cortex Function
Miller, E. K., & Cohen, J. D. (2001) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.24.1.167 · Cited by 12,803 · see citing works
Co-Planar Stereotaxic Atlas of the Human Brain
Talairach, J., & Tournoux, P. (1988) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 11,798 · see citing works
(1978) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) · Cited by 8,010 · see citing works
Cognitive maps in rats and men
Tolman, E. C. (1948) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/h0061626 · Cited by 6,641 · see citing works
Construal-level theory of psychological distance.
Trope, Y., & Liberman, N. (2010) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/a0018963 · Cited by 6,618 · see citing works
The hippocampus as a cognitive map
Passingham, R. E. (1979) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/0306-4522(79)90015-0 · Cited by 5,128 · see citing works
Talairach, J., Tournoux, P., & Rayport, M. (1988) · Thieme eBooks · Cited by 5,058 · see citing works
The expected value of control: an integrative theory of anterior cingulate cortex function
Shenhav, A., Botvinick, M. M., & Cohen, J. D. (2013) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.07.007 · Cited by 2,321 · see citing works
The general self-efficacy scale: multicultural validation studies
Luszczynska, A., Scholz, U., & Schwarzer, R. (2005) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.3200/jrlp.139.5.439-457 · Cited by 1,878 · see citing works
A psychological taxonomy of trait‐descriptive terms: The interpersonal domain
Wiggins, J. S. (1979) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.37.3.395 · Cited by 1,596 · see citing works
Inferences of competence from faces predict election outcomes
Todorov, A., Mandisodza, A. N., Goren, A., & Hall, C. C. (2005) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1110589 · Cited by 1,508 · see citing works
Amaral, D. G., Schumann, C. M., & Nordahl, C. W. (2008) · Trends in Neurosciences · doi:10.1016/j.tins.2007.12.005 · Cited by 1,492 · see citing works
Eichenbaum (2004) · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2004.08.028 · Cited by 1,464 · see citing works
The hippocampus and memory: insights from spatial processing
Bird, C. M., & Burgess, N. (2008) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn2335 · Cited by 1,313 · see citing works
The Hippocampus, Memory, and Place Cells
Eichenbaum, H., Dudchenko, P., Wood, E., Shapiro, M., & Tanila, H. (1999) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80773-4 · Cited by 1,064 · see citing works
Self-citationTransient and sustained activity in a distributed neural system for human working memory
Courtney, S. M., Ungerleider, L. G., Keil, K., & Haxby, J. V. (1997) · Nature · doi:10.1038/386608a0 · Cited by 960 · see citing works
FRESCO, D. M., COLES, M. E., HEIMBERG, R. G., LIEBOWITZ, M. R., HAMI, S., STEIN, M. B., & GOETZ, D. (2001) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291701004056 · Cited by 874 · see citing works
Functions of the left superior frontal gyrus in humans: a lesion study
Boisguéheneuc, F. D., Lévy, R., Emmanuelle Volle, C., Seassau, M., Duffau, H., Kinkingnéhun, S., Samson, Y., Zhang, S., & Dubois, B. (2006) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/awl244 · Cited by 856 · see citing works
Understanding evaluation of faces on social dimensions
Todorov, A., Said, C. P., Engell, A. D., & Oosterhof, N. N. (2008) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2008.10.001 · Cited by 706 · see citing works
Impaired hippocampal–prefrontal synchrony in a genetic mouse model of schizophrenia
Sigurdsson, T., Stark, K. L., Karayiorgou, M., Gogos, J. A., & Gordon, J. A. (2010) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08855 · Cited by 702 · see citing works
The social distance theory of power
Magee, J. C., & Smith, P. K. (2013) · Personality and Social Psychology Review · doi:10.1177/1088868312472732 · Cited by 620 · see citing works
Can We Reconcile the Declarative Memory and Spatial Navigation Views on Hippocampal Function?
Eichenbaum, H., & Cohen, N. J. (2014) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2014.07.032 · Cited by 615 · see citing works
HOW THE BRAIN PROCESSES SOCIAL INFORMATION: Searching for the Social Brain
Insel, T. R., & Fernald, R. D. (2004) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144148 · Cited by 556 · see citing works
The emergence of social cognitive neuroscience.
Ochsner, K. N., & Lieberman, M. D. (2001) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.56.9.717 · Cited by 536 · see citing works
The hippocampus: a manifesto for change
Maguire, E. A., & Mullally, S. L. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/a0033650 · Cited by 393 · see citing works
Lim, S.-L., O'Doherty, J. P., & Rangel, A. (2011) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1246-11.2011 · Cited by 329 · see citing works
On the directional firing properties of hippocampal place cells
Muller, R., Bostock, E., Taube, J., & Kubie, J. (1994) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.14-12-07235.1994 · Cited by 322 · see citing works
Haxby, J. V., Petit, L., Ungerleider, L. G., & Courtney, S. M. (2000) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1006/nimg.2000.0592 · Cited by 298 · see citing works
Addis, D. R., & Schacter, D. L. (2007) · Hippocampus · doi:10.1002/hipo.20405 · Cited by 275 · see citing works
Cundiff, J. M., Smith, T. W., Uchino, B. N., & Berg, C. A. (2011) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12529-011-9206-1 · Cited by 272 · see citing works
Conceptual Challenges and Directions for Social Neuroscience
Adolphs, R. (2010) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2010.03.006 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Action versus valence in decision making
Guitart-Masip, M., Duzel, E., Dolan, R., & Dayan, P. (2014) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2014.01.003 · Cited by 270 · see citing works
Origins of Mathematical Intuitions
Dehaene, S. (2009) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04469.x · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Wiggins, J. S., Phillips, N., & Trapnell, P. (1989) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.56.2.296 · Cited by 255 · cited 4× · see citing works
“…social view of the characters along the two main factors that influence relationships: power (being submissive or authoritative) and affiliation (sharing private information or physical touch) (Fiske, 2012; Harris and Fiske, 2007; Todorov et al., 2005, 2008; Wiggins, 1979; Wiggins et al., 1989).”
InfluentialParr, L. A., Winslow, J. T., Hopkins, W. D., & de Waal, F. B. M. (2000) · Journal of comparative psychology · doi:10.1037/0735-7036.114.1.47 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
Social groups that elicit disgust are differentially processed in mPFC
Harris, L. T., & Fiske, S. T. (2007) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsl037 · Cited by 224 · see citing works
Genetic origins of social networks in rhesus macaques
Brent, L. J. N., Heilbronner, S. R., Horvath, J. E., Gonzalez-Martinez, J., Ruiz-Lambides, A., Robinson, A. G., Skene, J. H. P., & Platt, M. L. (2013) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep01042 · Cited by 220 · see citing works
The Human Hippocampus: Cognitive Maps or Relational Memory?
Kumaran, D., & Maguire, E. A. (2005) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1103-05.2005 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Social status modulates neural activity in the mentalizing network
Muscatell, K. A., Morelli, S. A., Falk, E. B., Way, B. M., Pfeifer, J. H., Galinsky, A. D., Lieberman, M. D., Dapretto, M., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2012) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.01.080 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Toward a Neural Basis for Social Behavior
Stanley, D. A., & Adolphs, R. (2013) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.038 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
A neural mechanism of first impressions
Schiller, D., Freeman, J. B., Mitchell, J. P., Uleman, J. S., & Phelps, E. A. (2009) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn.2278 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
Self-citationA common cortical metric for spatial, temporal, and social distance
Parkinson, C., Liu, S., & Wheatley, T. (2014) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2159-13.2014 · Cited by 198 · see citing works
Nunes, P. M., Wenzel, A., Borges, K. T., Porto, C. R., Caminha, R. M., & de Oliveira, I. R. (2009) · Journal of Personality Disorders · doi:10.1521/pedi.2009.23.4.333 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
A manifold of spatial maps in the brain
Derdikman, D., & Moser, E. I. (2010) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2010.09.004 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Depression and the hippocampus: cause or effect?
Sheline, Y. I. (2011) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.06.006 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Maglio, S. J., Trope, Y., & Liberman, N. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Psychology General · doi:10.1037/a0030258 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Self-citationWarmth and competence: stereotype content issues for clinicians and researchers
Fiske, S. T. (2012) · Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne · doi:10.1037/a0026054 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
The neural dynamics of updating person impressions
Mende‐Siedlecki, P., Cai, Y., & Todorov, A. T. (2012) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nss040 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Social information changes the brain
Fernald, R. D., & Maruska, K. P. (2012) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1202552109 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Social rewards and social networks in the human brain
Fareri, D. S., & Delgado, M. R. (2014) · The Neuroscientist · doi:10.1177/1073858414521869 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Social learning in humans and other animals
Gariépy, J., Watson, K. K., Du, E., Xie, D. L., Erb, J., Amasino, D. R., & Platt, M. L. (2014) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2014.00058 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Ryan, L., Lin, C., Ketcham, K., & Nadel, L. (2010) · Hippocampus · doi:10.1002/hipo.20607 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
The Default Network Distinguishes Construals of Proximal versus Distal Events
Tamir, D., & Mitchell, J. P. (2011) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00009 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Weiler, J. A., Boris Suchan, A., & Daum, I. (2010) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2010.04.013 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Mason, R. A., & Just, M. A. (2010) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.21021 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Neurocognitive mechanisms underlying value-based decision-making: from core values to economic value
Brosch, T., & Sander, D. (2013) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00398 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Communication about social status
Fernald, R. D. (2014) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.04.004 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Overview: Innovations in Assessment Using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (2000) · Assessment · doi:10.1177/107319110000700402 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Left middle temporal gyrus activation during a phonemic discrimination task
Ashtari, M., Lencz, T., Zuffante, P., Bilder, R., Clarke, T., Diamond, A., Kane, J., & Szeszko, P. (2004) · NeuroReport · doi:10.1097/00001756-200403010-00001 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Krause, F., Lindemann, O., Toni, I., & Harold Bekkering, A. (2013) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00518 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Fernald, R. D., & Scharff, C. (2010) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.conb.2010.10.001 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
What Is a Cognitive Map? Organizing Knowledge for Flexible Behavior
Behrens, T. E. J., Muller, T. H., Whittington, J. C. R., Mark, S., Baram, A. B., Stachenfeld, K. L., & Kurth-Nelson, Z. (2018) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2018.10.002 · Cited by 1,055 · see citing works
The cognitive map in humans: spatial navigation and beyond
Epstein, R. A., Patai, E. Z., Julian, J. B., & Spiers, H. J. (2017) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn.4656 · Cited by 921 · see citing works
Viewpoints: how the hippocampus contributes to memory, navigation and cognition
Lisman, J., Buzsáki, G., Eichenbaum, H., Nadel, L., Ranganath, C., & Redish, A. D. (2017) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn.4661 · Cited by 851 · see citing works
Mapping of a non-spatial dimension by the hippocampal-entorhinal circuit
Aronov, D., Nevers, R., & Tank, D. W. (2017) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature21692 · Cited by 773 · see citing works
Navigating cognition: Spatial codes for human thinking
Bellmund, J. L. S., Gärdenfors, P., Moser, E. I., & Doeller, C. F. (2018) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aat6766 · Cited by 643 · see citing works
Learning, reward, and decision making
O'Doherty, J. P., Cockburn, J., & Pauli, W. M. (2017) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044216 · Cited by 475 · see citing works
The role of the hippocampus in navigation is memory
Eichenbaum, H. (2017) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00005.2017 · Cited by 430 · see citing works
A map of abstract relational knowledge in the human hippocampal-entorhinal cortex
Garvert, M. M., Dolan, R. J., & Behrens, T. E. (2017) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.17086 · Cited by 379 · see citing works
Sequential replay of nonspatial task states in the human hippocampus
Schuck, N. W., & Niv, Y. (2019) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aaw5181 · Cited by 304 · see citing works
Structuring knowledge with cognitive maps and cognitive graphs
Peer, M., Brunec, I. K., Newcombe, N. S., & Epstein, R. A. (2021) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2020.10.004 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Targeted Activation of Hippocampal Place Cells Drives Memory-Guided Spatial Behavior
Robinson, N. T. M., Descamps, L. A. L., Russell, L. E., Buchholz, M. O., Bicknell, B. A., Antonov, G. K., Lau, J. Y. N., Nutbrown, R., Schmidt-Hieber, C., & Häusser, M. (2020) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.061 · Cited by 281 · see citing works
Memory: organization and control.
Eichenbaum, H. (2017) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044131 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
Targeted activation of the hippocampal CA2 area strongly enhances social memory
Smith, A. S., Williams Avram, S. K., Cymerblit-Sabba, A., Song, J., & Young, W. S. (2016) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/mp.2015.189 · Cited by 236 · see citing works
The default network of the human brain is associated with perceived social isolation
Spreng, R. N., Dimas, E., Mwilambwe-Tshilobo, L., Dagher, A., Koellinger, P., Nave, G., Ong, A., Kernbach, J. M., Wiecki, T. V., Ge, T., et al. (2020) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20039-w · Cited by 236 · see citing works
Hippocampal and prefrontal processing of network topology to simulate the future
Javadi, A.-H., Emo, B., Howard, L. R., Zisch, F. E., Yu, Y., Knight, R., Pinelo Silva, J., & Spiers, H. J. (2017) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms14652 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Ventral hippocampal projections to the medial prefrontal cortex regulate social memory
Phillips, M. L., Robinson, H. A., & Pozzo-Miller, L. (2019) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.44182 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Spatial goal coding in the hippocampal formation
Nyberg, N., Duvelle, É., Barry, C., & Spiers, H. J. (2022) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.12.012 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
The role of the microbiome in the neurobiology of social behaviour
Sarkar, A., Harty, S., Johnson, K. V. ‐., Moeller, A. H., Carmody, R. N., Lehto, S. M., Erdman, S. E., Dunbar, R. I. M., & Burnet, P. W. J. (2020) · Biological Reviews · doi:10.1111/brv.12603 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
Schema cells in the macaque hippocampus
Baraduc, P., Duhamel, J.-R., & Wirth, S. (2019) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aav5404 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Toward an integration of deep learning and neuroscience
Marblestone, A. H., Wayne, G., & Kording, K. P. (2016) · Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncom.2016.00094 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Reagh, Z. M., & Ranganath, C. (2018) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2018.04.050 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Radulescu, A., Shin, Y. S., & Niv, Y. (2021) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-092920-120559 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Zheng, L., Gao, Z., McAvan, A. S., Isham, E. A., & Ekstrom, A. D. (2021) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-021-26560-w · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Evaluating Cognitive Maps and Planning in Large Language Models with CogEval
Momennejad, I., Hasanbeig, H., Frujeri, F. V., Sharma, H., Jojic, N., Palangi, H., Ness, R., & Larson, J. (2023) · Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 36 · doi:10.52202/075280-3056 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Mahmoodi, A., Nili, H., Harbison, C., Hamilton, S., Trudel, N., Bang, D., & Rushworth, M. F. S. (2023) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2022.12.030 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Ziegler, M. G., Liu, Z.-X., Arsenault, J., Dang, C., Grady, C., Rosenbaum, R. S., & Moscovitch, M. (2023) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhad272 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
- Authors
- Tavares, R. M., Mendelsohn, A., Grossman, Y., Williams, C. H., Shapiro, M., Trope, Y., & Schiller, D.
- Affiliations
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
- University of Haifa (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Schiller, Daniela
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-07
- Volume
- 87
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 231-243
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4662863
- OpenAlex
- W1575194766
- Semantic Scholar
- a66e5efbce8d737c7c1ec26ff2897468bc85cad7
- Cited by
- 505
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 40 · 2025: 60 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 107 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 15.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Simons Foundation
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH065658, R01MH073689)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Keywords
- hippocampus, social cognition, social space, social navigation, interpersonal relationships, social skills, episodic memory, cognitive maps, role-playing games, virtual characters, social neuroscience
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Hippocampus, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Social Behavior, Young Adult, Functional Neuroimaging, Social Skills
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
