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Cited by 79Child and Animal Learning DevelopmentAction Observation and SynchronizationNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Age-related differences in function and structure of rSMG and reduced functional connectivity with DLPFC explains heightened emotional egocentricity bias in childhood

Open access
Steinbeis, Nikolaus, Bernhardt, Boris C., Singer, Tania·2015·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
DOI 10.1093/scan/nsu057PMC PMC4321629
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Abstract

Humans often judge others egocentrically, assuming that they feel or think similarly to themselves. Emotional egocentricity bias (EEB) occurs in situations when others feel differently to oneself. Using a novel paradigm, we investigated the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the developmental capacity to overcome such EEB in children compared with adults. We showed that children display a stronger EEB than adults and that this correlates with reduced activation in right supramarginal gyrus (rSMG) as well as reduced coupling between rSMG and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) in children compared with adults. Crucially, functional recruitment of rSMG was associated with age-related differences in cortical thickness of this region. Although in adults the mere presence of emotional conflict occurs between self and other recruited rSMG, rSMG-lDLPFC coupling was only observed when implementing empathic judgements. Finally, resting state analyses comparing connectivity patterns of rSMG with that of right temporoparietal junction suggested a unique role of rSMG for self-other distinction in the emotional domain for adults as well as for children. Thus, children's difficulties in overcoming EEB may be due to late maturation of regions distinguishing between conflicting socio-affective information and relaying this information to regions necessary for implementing accurate judgments.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Children show a stronger emotional egocentricity bias (EEB) than adults, and this is linked to reduced right supramarginal gyrus (rSMG) recruitment and weaker rSMG–left DLPFC coupling. Age-related rSMG cortical thinning and connectivity patterns suggest late maturation of self–other distinction and empathic judgment implementation.

Key findings

  • In Study 1, 168 children showed a significant EEB: main effect of congruency \(F(1,166)=7.01\), \(P<0.01\), and an age-related decrease in EEB \(r=-0.34\), \(P<0.001\). In Study 2, children showed a congruency effect \(F(1,26)=13.67\), \(P<0.001\), whereas adults did not \(F(1,19)<0.2\); the congruency × age interaction was significant \(F(1,45)=6.92\), \(P<0.05\).
  • Adults showed incongruent > congruent activation in rTPJ/rSMG, bilateral anterior insula, and anterior cingulate cortex at \(p_{\text{FWE}}<0.05\); children’s activation differences did not survive correction. The direct adult > child contrast revealed rTPJ and rSMG at \(p_{\text{SVC}}<0.01\), with rSMG overlapping prior rSMG findings by 80 mm³.
  • Smaller EEB related to stronger rSMG–medial PFC connectivity in children (\(p_{\text{FWE}}<0.05\)) and stronger rSMG–left DLPFC connectivity in adults (\(p_{\text{SVC}}<0.05\)); the left DLPFC association was stronger in adults than children. In adults, rSMG–lDLPFC coupling was observed during judgment but not no-judgment blocks.
  • Age-related cortical thinning was found for rTPJ \(F(1,46)=76.509\), \(P<0.001\), and rSMG \(F(1,46)=76.336\), \(P<0.001\); rSMG thickness negatively related to its functional activation \(r=-0.370\), \(P<0.05\), and shared age + thickness variance explained 13.2% of activation variance. Resting-state connectivity differed: rSMG was more connected to SMG subregions and bilateral insula, while rTPJ was more connected to medial PFC, ventrolateral PFC, and lateral/medial parietal regions.

Methods

  • Study 1 behavioral sample: 168 children (70 boys; mean age 10.14 ± 1.79 years; range 7–13 years), mostly Swiss, recruited from primary schools in Rapperswil, Switzerland.
  • Study 2 behavioral/MRI sample: 30 children and 20 adults; 3 children excluded for excessive motion, leaving 27 children (14 boys; mean age 10.22 ± 2.11 years; range 6–13 years) and 20 adults (10 men; mean age 26.01 ± 2.34 years; range 22–31 years).
  • Participants completed the REAP monetary reward/punishment task; behavioral analyses used repeated-measures ANOVA, and MRI analyses used flexible factorial fMRI, psychophysiological interaction (PPI), cortical thickness, task-free functional connectivity, and commonality analysis. Additional tests included Coloured Progressive Matrices, attentional reorienting, belief attribution, and Stop-Signal Reaction Time.

Limitations

  • The authors state there is no direct evidence with the present paradigm that rSMG serves the same function as in the visuo-tactile paradigm; they propose an rTMS study with the present paradigm and running both paradigms in a single sample. They also note the structure–function association may reflect general cortical development including rSMG, though precentral gyrus control analyses support specificity.
  • The authors discuss the possibility that participants reactivated remembered emotions rather than experiencing them, but argue against this based on sustained emotional intensity and prior visuo-tactile findings.
  • Evident from the text: Study 2 had small samples (27 children, 20 adults), children’s task fMRI activation differences did not survive correction, no brain–behavior correlations were found with activity per se, and the cross-sectional design cannot establish longitudinal developmental change.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1093/scan/nsu057

Cites

51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 38 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    In adults, the mere presence of emotional conflict between self and other recruited rSMG.

    “in adults the mere presence of emotional conflict occurs between self and other recruited rSMG”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Functional recruitment of rSMG is associated with age-related differences in cortical thickness of this region.

    “Crucially, functional recruitment of rSMG was associated with age-related differences in cortical thickness of this region.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Children display a stronger emotional egocentricity bias (EEB) than adults.

    “We showed that children display a stronger EEB than adults”
    • Also stated in: § EEBbehavioral results · plain
      “In Study 2, children showed a significant effect of congruency, whereas adults did not”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The stronger EEB in children compared with adults correlates with reduced coupling between rSMG and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC).

    “reduced coupling between rSMG and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) in children compared with adults”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    rSMG-lDLPFC coupling was observed only when implementing empathic judgements.

    “rSMG-lDLPFC coupling was only observed when implementing empathic judgements.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 26
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 20

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In adults, rSMG showed more marked connectivity relative to rTPJ to bilateral insula and rSMG; conversely, rTPJ was more strongly connected than rSMG to large portions of medial PFC, precuneus, TPJ, the temporal poles and superior frontal gyrus.

    “In adults, rSMG showed more marked connectivity relative to rTPJ to bilateral insula and rSMG; conversely, rTPJ was more strongly connected than rSMG to large portions of medial PFC, precuneus, TPJ, the temporal poles and superior frontal gyrus.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Study 2, children showed a significant effect of congruency, whereas adults did not.

    “In Study 2, children showed a significant effect of congruency, whereas adults did not”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Increased connectivity of rSMG with right DLPFC when EEB was smaller did not survive threshold for multiple comparisons.

    “Although we also found increased connectivity of rSMG with right DLPFC when the EEB was smaller, this effect did not survive our threshold set to correct for multiple comparisons.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    rSMG activation in the current study overlapped by 80 mm3 with the rSMG activation reported in previous studies.

    “Importantly, rSMG activation overlapped by 80 mm 3 with the rSMG activation reported in previous studies”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    For children, the connectivity patterns were virtually identical to adults, with the exception of increased connectivity between rSMG and medial cingulate cortex.

    “For children, these patterns were virtually identical, with the exception of increased connectivity between rSMG and medial cingulate cortex.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    In Study 2, there was a significant EEB only in children and not in adults.

    “led to a significant EEB only in children and not in adults”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The task-based connectivity analysis indicates that individual differences in the EEB are best explained by connectivity from rSMG and not from rTPJ to lateral PFC.

    “The task-based connectivity analysis indicates that individual differences in the EEB are best explained by connectivity from rSMG and not from rTPJ to lateral PFC.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    In Study 1, the EEB in the positive and negative domain were significantly correlated.

    “The EEB in the positive and negative domain were significantly correlated.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In children, activation differences between congruent and incongruent trials were subtle and did not survive correction for multiple comparisons.

    “In children, activation differences between congruent and incongruent trials were subtle and did not survive correction for multiple comparisons”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Children in comparison with adults show a considerable increase in EEB, which is reduced by age.

    “our findings shed light on the development of emotional egocentricity in showing that children in comparison with adults show a considerable increase in EEB, which is reduced by age.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    When comparing congruent with incongruent trials, adults showed strong activation of rTPJ and rSMG (p fwe < 0.05), whereas children showed activity in right inferior frontal gyrus (P < 0.05 uncorrected).

    “(A) When comparing congruent with incongruent trials, adults showed strong activitation of rTPJ and rSMG.(p fwe < 0.05), whereas (B) children showed activity in right inferior frotal gyrus (P < 0.05 uncorrected).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Individual differences in cognitive perspective taking neither correlated with individual differences in the EEB nor could they account for age-related differences in overcoming the EEB.

    “Crucially, we could show that individual differences in cognitive perspective taking neither correlated with individual differences in the EEB nor could they account for age-related differences in overcoming the EEB.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Emotional intensity in response to one's own wins and losses did not decrease throughout the experiment, suggesting that the Simultaneous Other condition induced strong emotions to one's own wins and losses.

    “First, in our experiment, emotional intensity in response to one's own wins and losses did not decrease throughout the experiment, which suggests that the Simultaneous Other condition induced strong emotions to one's own wins and losses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The task-related functional connectivity of rSMG with lDLPFC was associated with individual differences in the EEB and was weaker for children than for adults.

    “Moreover, the task-related functional connectivity of this region with lDLPFC was associated with individual differences in the EEB and in turn weaker for children than for adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Study 1, children showed a significant effect of congruency between their own affective state and that of the other person, whereby they rated the other as feeling more negative when they themselves had lost and more positive when they themselves had won, resulting in a significant EEB.

    “(D) In Study 1, children showed a significant effect of congruency between their own affective state and that of the other person, whereby they rated the other as feeling more negative when they themselves had lost and more positive when they themselves had won, which (E) resulted in a significant EEB.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Neither individual differences in cognitive perspective taking and EEB correlated, nor could connectivity from rTPJ account for any individual- or age-related differences in the EEB.

    “Importantly, neither individual differences in cognitive perspective taking and EEB correlated, nor could connectivity from rTPJ account for any individual-or age-related differences in the EEB.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    The EEB in the positive and negative domain were significantly correlated.

    “(F) The EEB in the positive and negative domain were significantly correlated.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Study 1, there was an age-related decrease in the EEB in the sample of children, and a trend in the sample of children in Study 2.

    “(J) In Study 1, there was also an age-related decrease in the EEB in the sample of children, and a trend in the sample of children in Study 2.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Study 2, children showed a significant effect of congruency, whereas adults did not, leading to a significant EEB only in children and not in adults.

    “(G) In Study 2, children showed a significant effect of congruency, whereas adults did not, which (H) led to a significant EEB only in children and not in adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisereasoning

    Relying on one's own mental states to infer others' mental states produces an egocentric bias when mental states between oneself and others do not align.

    “This works efficiently when mental states between oneself and others align, but such a mechanism will betray a bias to judging others egocentrically when this is not the case”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Emotional egocentricity lies at the heart of much of human interpersonal and group conflict.

    “Emotional egocentricity lies at the heart of much of human interpersonal (Thompson and Loewenstein, 1992) and group conflict (Chambers et al., 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Thompson and Loewenstein, 1992

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Chambers et al., 2006 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The ability to attribute beliefs and desires to others incongruent to one's own is protracted and continues into adulthood.

    “However, behavioral evidence suggests that the ability to attribute beliefs and desires to others incongruent to one's own is protracted and continues into adulthood”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Keysar et al., 2003 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Apperly et al., 2011 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Humans tend to rely on their own experiences and mental states to infer those of other people.

    “Humans tend to rely on their own experiences and mental states to infer those of other people”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Gallese and Goldman, 1998

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Singer et al., 2004 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Keysers and Gazzola, 2007 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Attributing desires to others incongruent with one's own is something already young children around 18 months successfully do.

    “Previous studies have shown that attributing desires to others incongruent with one's own is something already young children around 18 months successfully do (Repacholi and Gopnik, 1997).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Repacholi and Gopnik, 1997

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Over different paradigms, rSMG had a crucial role in overcoming EEB, suggesting that the process implemented in rSMG is largely independent of stimulus type and sensory modality.

    “This evidence converges to show that over different paradigms rSMG had a crucial role in overcoming EEB, suggesting that the process implemented in rSMG is largely independent of stimulus type and sensory modality.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adults are prone to egocentric judgments in the cognitive domain and when attributing visceral and affective states.

    “Adults have been shown to be prone to egocentric judgments both in the cognitive domain (Royzman et al., 2003;Pronin, 2008) as well as when attributing visceral (Van Boven and Loewenstein, 2003;O'Brien and Ellsworth, 2012) and affective states (Silani et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Royzman et al., 2003 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Pronin, 2008 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Silani et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Although rSMG has been found twice to be engaged in overcoming incongruent affective judgements, rTPJ has usually been discussed as crucial in self-other distinction, cognitive perspective-taking, and other less affective aspects of social cognition.

    “Thus, although rSMG was found now twice to be engaged in overcoming incongruent affective judgements, rTPJ has been usually discussed to be crucial in the context of self-other distinction and cognitive perspective-taking and other less affective aspects of social cognition (Saxe and Kanwisher, 2003;Decety and Lamm, 2007;Carter and Huettel, 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Saxe and Kanwisher, 2003 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Decety and Lamm, 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Carter and Huettel, 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    A recent functional role ascribed to rSMG in overcoming EEB is to disambiguate perceptual information pertaining to oneself from that relevant to others during incongruency between self- and other-related affective states.

    “Specifically, a recent functional role ascribed to rSMG in overcoming EEB is to disambiguate the perceptual information pertaining to oneself from that relevant to others during incongruency between self-and other-related affective states (Silani et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Silani et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The above age-related effects were consistent when additionally correcting for sex effects in all the above analyses.

    “Note that the above age-related effects were also consistent when additionally correcting for sex effects in all the above analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Previous fMRI studies have provided considerable evidence that DLPFC is required for the implementation of basic perceptual as well as complex social decisions and judgments.

    “previous fMRI studies have provided considerable evidence that DLPFC is required for the implementation of basic perceptual (Heekeren et al., 2004(Heekeren et al., , 2006) ) as well as complex social decisions and judgments (Knoch et al., 2006(Knoch et al., , 2009;;Spitzer et al., 2007;Steinbeis et al., 2012;Tassy et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Heekeren et al., 2004 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Knoch et al., 2006 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Spitzer et al., 2007 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Posterior portions of temporoparietal cortex comprising TPJ have greater intrinsic functional connectivity with medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex.

    “This study showed that although posterior portions comprising TPJ have greater intrinsic functional connectivity with medial prefrontal (PFC) and posterior cingulate cortex”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mars et al., 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Individual differences in EEB manifest in functional coupling of rSMG with lateral and medial prefrontal regions, and not in activity of rSMG per se.

    “These findings suggest that individual differences in the EEB manifest themselves rather in the functional coupling of rSMG with lateral and medial prefrontal regions, and not in activity of rSMG per se.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    DLPFC may use information from rSMG to subsequently implement a concrete decision in the form of a social judgment.

    “On the other hand, DLPFC may then use this information from rSMG to subsequently implement a concrete decision in form of a social judgment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Recent electrophysiological data suggest activity of the posterior parietal cortex relates to calculation and representation of the perspective of others, whereas frontal regions resolve the conflict between self and other perspective when having to respond.

    “Further, recent electrophysiological data suggest activity of the posterior parietal cortex to relate the calculation and representation of the perspective of others, whereas frontal regions resolve the conflict between self and other perspective when having to respond (McCleery et al., 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites McCleery et al., 2011 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationown data

    There is no direct evidence with the present paradigm for rSMG serving the same function as in the visuo-tactile version.

    “while there is evidence that rSMG subserves this function in a visuo-tactile version of the present paradigm (Silani et al., 2013), there is no direct evidence with the present paradigm for rSMG serving the same function.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Silani et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    DLPFC has been shown to play a crucial role in implementing social decisions, and this function still undergoes considerable development.

    “DLPFC has been shown to play a crucial role in the context of implementing social decisions and previous evidence that this function still undergoes considerable development (Guroglu et al., 2011;Steinbeis et al., 2012;Crone, 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Guroglu et al., 2011 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Steinbeis et al., 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Crone, 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    It is possible to see both rTMS and the developing brain as two sides of the same coin in terms of a lesion model of rSMG function, which when functionally impaired or immature in both cases leads to a greater EEB.

    “However, in our view, it is possible to see both rTMS and the developing brain as two sides of the same coin in terms of a lesion model of rSMG function, which when functionally impaired/ immature in both cases leads to a greater EEB.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Together with the strikingly different task-free resting state connectivity between rSMG and rTPJ for both children and adults, this strongly suggests that rSMG possesses the necessary features to resolve the incongruence between one's own and another's emotional but not cognitive state; the latter being required for mentalizing and theory-of-mind tasks.

    “Together, with the strikingly different task-free resting state connectivity between rSMG and rTPJ for both children and adults, this strongly suggest that rSMG possesses the necessary features to resolve the incongruence between one's own and another's emotional but not cognitive state; the latter being required for mentalizing and theory-ofmind tasks.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A previous eye-tracking study showed that age-related differences in egocentric visual perspective taking occur as a function of developmental changes in controlled processes of correcting and implementing judgments.

    “A previous study used eye-tracking to show that age-related differences in egocentric visual perspective taking occurs as a function of developmental changes in controlled processes of correcting and implementing judgments (Epley et al., 2004).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Epley et al., 2004 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The ability to fully overcome emotional egocentricity with adulthood presumably occurs as a function of the maturation of late developing cortical regions, such as rSMG and lDLPFC.

    “The ability to fully overcome this with adulthood presumably occurs as a function of the maturation of late developing cortical regions, such as rSMG and lDLPFC.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Cortical thickness of rSMG reflects age-related maturation of this brain region.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Our data reveal that although rSMG appears to distinguish between one's own and another's emotional states when these are incongruent, conflict resolution is subsequently implemented by lDLPFC when having to provide an accurate empathic judgment.

    “Specifically, our data reveal that although rSMG appears to distinguish between one's own and another's emotional states when these are incongruent, conflict resolution is subsequently implemented by lDLPFC when having to provide an accurate empathic judgment.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A previous assessment on emotional egocentricity based on visuo-tactile stimulation showed increased rSMG connectivity to visual and somatosensory cortical areas during incongruent compared with congruent trials, suggesting that immediate perceptual input, not its memory, is processed and overcome.

    “Second, a previous assessment on emotional egocentricity based on visuo-tactile stimulation (Silani et al., 2013) has shown increased rSMG connectivity to visual and somatosensory cortical areas during incongruent compared with congruent trials, suggestive that the immediate perceptual input (and not its memory) is processed and overcome.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Silani et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Children still lack the full set of mechanisms that help to make accurate judgments of other's emotions and presumably also predictions of their behavior in moments when their emotions conflict with those of others.

    “Brain imaging data reveal that children still lack the full set of mechanisms that help to make accurate judgments of other's emotions and presumably also predictions of their behavior in moments when their emotions conflict with those of others.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The structure-function association in rSMG is presumably a result of general cortical development also comprising rSMG.

    “It is also important to note that our structure-function association in the rSMG is presumably a result of general cortical development also comprising the rSMG.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Cortical thickness of rSMG reflects age-related maturation of this brain region.
44 of 44

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The developmental trajectory of emotional egocentricity and its underlying neural and cognitive processes are largely unknown.

    “very little is known in contrast about how emotional egocentricity manifests itself in development and what the underlying neural and associated cognitive processes are that give rise to such emotional egocentricity in childhood”
    “the developmental trajectory of emotional egocentricity remains unknown”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Cortical thickness of rSMG reflects age-related maturation of this brain region.

    “These findings indicate that the extent of activation of rSMG can, in part, be explained by the agerelated maturation of this brain region (Table 1 and Supplementary Figure S12).”
    “It is also important to note that our structure-function association in the rSMG is presumably a result of general cortical development also comprising the rSMG.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

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  • The right temporoparietal junction is functionally connected to other parts of the Theory of Mind neural network, such as the medial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex.

    “It is also functionally connected to other parts of the ToM neural network, such as the medial and ventrolateral PFC and the PCC [45 ,46].”

    From On the interaction of social affect and cognition: empathy, compassion and theory of mind (2018) · cites this paper as [46]

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Authors
Steinbeis, N., Bernhardt, B. C., & Singer, T.
Affiliations
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (DE)
ORCID
Venue
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2014-04-24
Volume
10
Issue
2
Pages
302-310
ISSN
  • 1749-5016 (ISSN-L)
  • 1749-5024
DOI
10.1093/scan/nsu057
PMC
PMC4321629
OpenAlex
W2110857432
Semantic Scholar
9ac89947847407df1d5a6456907121d93773eed9
Cited by
79
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4
FWCI
22.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Universität Zürich
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, functional connectivity, cortical thickness, developmental differences, empathy, self-other distinction, emotional conflict, temporoparietal junction, resting-state functional connectivity
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Aging, Child, Emotions, Empathy, Female, Games, Experimental, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Judgment, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neural Pathways, Parietal Lobe, Reaction Time, Temporal Lobe, Prefrontal Cortex, Young Adult

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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 2026-10-10.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-10.

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