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Cited by 1,320Face Recognition and PerceptionAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchAction Observation and Synchronization

Social intelligence in the normal and autistic brain: An fMRI study

Baron‐Cohen, Simon, Ring, Howard A., Wheelwright, Sally, Bullmore, Edward T., Brammer, Mick J., Simmons, Andrew, Williams, Steve C. R.·1999·European Journal of Neuroscience
DOI 10.1046/j.1460-9568.1999.00621.x
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Abstract

There is increasing support for the existence of 'social intelligence' [Humphrey (1984) Consciousness Regained], independent of general intelligence. Brothers et al. 1990) J. Cog. Neurosci., 4, 107-118] proposed a network of neural regions that comprise the 'social brain': the orbito-frontal cortex (OFC), superior temporal gyrus (STG) and amygdala. We tested Brothers' theory by examining both normal subjects as well as patients with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome (AS), who are well known to have deficits in social intelligence, and perhaps deficits in amygdala function [Bauman & Kemper (1988) J. Neuropath. Exp. Neurol., 47, 369]. We used a test of judging from the expressions of another person's eyes what that other person might be thinking or feeling. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) we confirmed Brothers' prediction that the STG and amygdala show increased activation when using social intelligence. Some areas of the prefrontal cortex also showed activation. In contrast, patients with autism or AS activated the fronto-temporal regions but not the amygdala when making mentalistic inferences from the eyes. These results provide support for the social brain theory of normal function, and the amygdala theory of autism.

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  • The latter is consistent with atypical central nervous system responses to the Eyes task, such as decreased amygdala activation.

    “The latter is consistent with atypical central nervous system responses to the Eyes task (for example, decreased amygdala activation) [73].”

    From Functional autonomic nervous system profile in children with autism spectrum disorder (2014) · cites this paper as [73]

  • A number of studies suggest poorer performance of ASD groups in gender discrimination tasks based on faces.

    “A number of studies suggest poorer performance of ASD groups in gender discrimination tasks based on faces”

    From Vision in autism spectrum disorders (2009) · cites this paper as Baron-Cohen et al., 1999

  • Early neuroimaging evidence was in agreement that the amygdala was hypo-active during the viewing of (normally) emotional facial expressions.

    “As with the FFA, early neuroimaging evidence was in agreement that the amygdala was hypo-active during the viewing of (normally) emotional facial expressions (Baron-Cohen et al., 1999;Critchley et al., 2000;Pierce, Muller, Ambrose, Allen, & Courchesne, 2001).”

    From Vision in autism spectrum disorders (2009) · cites this paper as Baron-Cohen et al., 1999

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Authors
Baron‐Cohen, S., Ring, H. A., Wheelwright, S., Bullmore, E. T., Brammer, M. J., Simmons, A., & Williams, S. C. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
  • University of London (GB)
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Neuroscience
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1999-06
Volume
11
Issue
6
Pages
1891-1898
ISSN
  • 0953-816X (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-9568
DOI
10.1046/j.1460-9568.1999.00621.x
OpenAlex
W2105707421
Cited by
1,320
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 68 · 2014: 74 · 2013: 66 · 2012: 58
FWCI
13.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 3418 d)
Locations
  • European Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Wellcome Trust
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
Keywords
social intelligence, autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, amygdala, superior temporal gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, mentalization, gaze, facial expression interpretation, prefrontal cortex, neural basis of social cognition
MeSH terms
Adult, Amygdala, Autistic Disorder, Facial Expression, Female, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Intelligence, Interpersonal Relations, Judgment, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Reference Values, Temporal Lobe, Prefrontal Cortex

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