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Right supramarginal gyrus is crucial to overcome emotional egocentricity bias in social judgments

Open access
Silani, Giorgia, Lamm, Claus, Ruff, Christian C., Singer, Tania·2013·The Journal of Neuroscience
DOI 10.1523/jneurosci.1488-13.2013PMC PMC6618458
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Abstract

Humans tend to use the self as a reference point to perceive the world and gain information about other people's mental states. However, applying such a self-referential projection mechanism in situations where it is inappropriate can result in egocentrically biased judgments. To assess egocentricity bias in the emotional domain (EEB), we developed a novel visuo-tactile paradigm assessing the degree to which empathic judgments are biased by one's own emotions if they are incongruent to those of the person we empathize with. A first behavioral experiment confirmed the existence of such EEB, and two independent fMRI experiments revealed that overcoming biased empathic judgments is associated with increased activation in the right supramarginal gyrus (rSMG), in a location distinct from activations in right temporoparietal junction reported in previous social cognition studies. Using temporary disruption of rSMG with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation resulted in a substantial increase of EEB, and so did reducing visuo-tactile stimulation time as shown in an additional behavioral experiment. Our findings provide converging evidence from multiple methods and experiments that rSMG is crucial for overcoming emotional egocentricity. Effective connectivity analyses suggest that this may be achieved by early perceptual regulation processes disambiguating proprioceptive first-person information (touch) from exteroceptive third-person information (vision) during incongruency between self- and other-related affective states. Our study extends previous models of social cognition. It shows that although shared neural networks may underlie emotional understanding in some situations, an additional mechanism subserved by rSMG is needed to avoid biased social judgments in other situations.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This paper develops a visuo-tactile paradigm to quantify emotional egocentricity bias (EEB) and reports across five experiments that right supramarginal gyrus (rSMG) is crucial for overcoming biased empathic judgments. Disrupting rSMG with rTMS or shortening stimulation time substantially increases EEB.

Key findings

  • A significant EEB was established in behavioral Experiment 1 (N = 72): target × congruency interaction F(1,71) = 5.659, p = 0.02, partial η² = 0.074; incongruent − congruent other-related judgments = 0.616/0.211 vs self-related = 0.165/0.115.
  • fMRI Experiment 2 (N = 32) found that overcoming EEB was associated with increased activation in posterior rSMG (MNI 68/−38/36, P_SVC = 0.036), with no significant voxels for the opposite contrast; PPI showed increased connectivity with primary/secondary somatosensory cortex and bilateral higher-order visual cortex.
  • Temporary disruption of rSMG with 1 Hz rTMS (N = 45; 22 rSMG, 23 vertex) increased EEB about threefold (1.204 vs 0.451 scale units; planned comparison rSMG vs vertex for other target F(1,47) = 5.069, p = 0.03; Mann–Whitney P_U = 0.034).
  • Reducing visuo-tactile stimulation from 3 s to 1 s in behavioral Experiment 2 (N = 24) also increased EEB: target × congruency F(1,23) = 8.832, p = 0.007, partial η² = 0.277; other-related incongruent − congruent = 0.774/0.281 vs self-related = −0.025/0.005.

Methods

  • Five related experiments with a total sample of 191 healthy right-handed female undergraduate students: behavioral Experiment 1 (N = 72), pilot fMRI Experiment 1 (N = 18), fMRI Experiment 2 (N = 32), rTMS Experiment (N = 45), and behavioral Experiment 2 (N = 24).
  • Participants made self- or other-related emotion judgments after pleasant or unpleasant visuo-tactile stimulation; trials were congruent or incongruent between the participant’s and the other person’s emotional valence.
  • Analyses included three-factorial ANOVAs and planned comparisons, fMRI general linear models with small-volume correction using independent fMRI1 localizers, psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analyses, meta-analytic comparisons, and 1 Hz rTMS for 15 min over rSMG or vertex.

Limitations

  • The paper states that emotions were elicited by combined tactile and visual stimulation, so future research with different emotion-elicitation methods is needed to assure generalizability; it also states that only female undergraduate participants were investigated, limiting validity to the female population.
  • Evident from the text: behavioral EEB did not reach significance inside the scanner (fMRI1: F(1,17) = 1.233, p = 0.282; fMRI2: F(1,31) = 0.235, p = 0.631), and the direct comparison of rSMG vs rTPJ activation strengths only showed a trend, so the proposed functional segregation is not conclusively established.
  • Evident from the text: TMS has limited spatial resolution, and the authors note that more posterior rTPJ may have been somewhat affected; they call for future direct rTMS comparisons of rSMG versus posterior rTPJ subdivisions.

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

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.1488-13.2013

Cites

49 of 49 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 33 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Comparison of activation in rSMG to meta-analyses of rTPJ during theory of mind, agency, and imitation inhibition did not yield any overlapping voxels.

    “Second, the comparison of activation in rSMG to meta-analyses of rTPJ during theory of mind (Mar, 2011), agency (Sperduti et al., 2011), and imitation inhibition (Brass et al., 2009) did not yield any overlapping voxels.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Mar, 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Sperduti et al., 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Brass et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingown data

    The three-way interaction target × congruency × valence did not yield significant activations in fMRI2.

    “the three-way interaction target ϫ congruency ϫ valence also did not yield significant activations, nor did the additionally performed whole-brain analysis testing for activations outside the ROI.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Reducing visuo-tactile stimulation time resulted in a substantial increase of EEB.

    “and so did reducing visuo-tactile stimulation time as shown in an additional behavioral experiment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Egocentricity effects are stronger at the onset of stimulation, and shorter stimulation times might make it easier to detect such effects behaviorally, as the control processes involved in overcoming them might not have been engaged yet.
  • Findingown data

    Behavioral data acquired in fMRI1 and fMRI2 did not reach significance for EEB.

    “the behavioral data did not reach significance for EEB (fMRI1: target ϫ congruency, F (1,17) ϭ 1.233, p ϭ 0.282, ␩ p 2 ϭ 0.068, mean EEB ϭ 0.264; fMRI2: target ϫ congruency, F (1,31) ϭ 0.235, p ϭ 0.631, ␩ p 2 ϭ 0.008, mean EEB ϭ 0.085).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    We reliably observed activation in rSMG associated with EEB in a location clearly anterior to commonly observed rTPJ activity for social-cognitive and attention paradigms.

    “However, we reliably observed activation in the rSMG associated with EEB in a location that was clearly anterior to the commonly observed rTPJ activity for social-cognitive and attention paradigms (i.e., in the junction between anterior inferior parietal lobule, posterior superior temporal, and angular gyrus).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 15
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 12

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Participants in Behavioral Experiment 1 seemed rather proficient in minimizing biased judgments, with a medium effect size (ηp2 = 0.074).

    “the participants in our study seemed to be rather proficient in minimizing biased judgments”
    • Also stated in: § Behavioral Experiment 2 · hedged
      “effect size estimate (␩ p 2 ϭ 0.074) which by statistical conventions would be considered as medium”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kirk, 1996

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Findingown data

    The activation peaks in fMRI1 and fMRI2 were practically identical (fMRI1 MNI 68/−38/32 vs fMRI2 68/−38/36).

    “note, however, that the activation peaks in fMRI1 and fMRI2 were practically identical (fMRI1 MNI x/y/z ϭ 68/Ϫ38/32 vs fMRI2 68/Ϫ38/36).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The first and second fMRI experiments consistently showed higher activity in rSMG, and only in rSMG, when participants made empathic judgments about another person's affective states (but not self-judgments) when in an incongruent as compared with a congruent emotional state.

    “Hence, the first and second fMRI experiment consistently showed higher activity in rSMG, and only in rSMG, when participants had to make empathic judgments about another persons' affective states (but not when engaged in self-judgments) when they were in an incongruent as compared with a congruent emotional state.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Findingown data

    Exploration of fMRI data with a FIR model showed significant activation restricted to the first seconds of a trial, whereas later regressors did not show any significant activation.

    “Exploration of the data with a FIR model showed significant activation restricted to the first seconds of a trial, whereas later regressors did not show any significant activation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The interaction was driven by a significantly larger difference between incongruent and congruent other-related judgments for the rSMG group than for the vertex control group, whereas no difference between groups was observed for self-related judgments.

    “Inspection of the pattern of results (Fig. 5) and planned linear comparisons indicated that this interaction was driven by a significantly larger difference between incongruent and congruent other-related judgments for the rSMG group than for the vertex control group, whereas no difference between the groups was observed for self-related judgments”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    This area was located in the SMG and thus anterior to the junction of parietal and temporal cortex.

    “This area was located in the SMG and thus anterior to the junction of parietal and temporal cortex.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    EEB in the second behavioral experiment was significantly higher than in the first experiment, but not significantly higher than in the rSMG TMS group.

    “Notably, EEB in the second behavioral experiment was significantly higher than in the first experiment (Mann-Whitney U test, P U ϭ 0.02), but not significantly higher than in the rSMG TMS group (P U ϭ 0.676).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Vertex stimulation was used as a control for nonspecific effects of TMS, such as auditory and sensory stimulation, with minimal neural stimulation.

    “Vertex stimulation was used as a control for the nonspecific effects of TMS, such as auditory and sensory stimulation due to clicking sounds and tapping sensations, with minimal neural stimulation (as the interhemispheric fissure was the stimulation spot).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Data from fMRI1 and fMRI2 were not quantitatively combined in a joint analysis but treated as two independent observations.

    “Importantly, the data from fMRI1 and fMRI2 were not quantitatively combined in a joint analysis, but treated as two independent observations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Previous social neuroscience research has consistently implicated rTPJ in theory of mind and self-other distinction tasks, as well as in attention reorienting acting as a possible mechanism for self-other distinction.

    “Previous social neuroscience research has consistently implicated the rTPJ in theory of mind and self-other distinction tasks (Decety and Lamm, 2007;Corbetta et al., 2008;Brass et al., 2009;Mar, 2011), as well as in attention reorienting acting as a possible mechanism for self-other distinction (Mitchell, 2008;Young et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Decety and Lamm, 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Corbetta et al., 2008

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Brass et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Although shared neural networks may underlie emotional understanding in some situations, an additional mechanism subserved by rSMG is needed to avoid biased social judgments in other situations.

    “It shows that although shared neural networks may underlie emotional understanding in some situations, an additional mechanism subserved by rSMG is needed to avoid biased social judgments in other situations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    fMRI2 used a double-tiered strategy in which hypotheses generated by the exploratory fMRI1 were tested with stricter control of false positives using small volume correction.

    “This represents a double-tiered strategy where hypotheses generated by the first, exploratory experiment (fMRI1) were tested with more strict control of false positives using fMRI Experiment 2 (Poldrack, 2007).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Poldrack, 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Attention reorienting could be a potential mechanism for explaining activation in rTPJ observed during self-other distinction required in theory of mind.

    “The rationale for adding an attention reorienting task was based on the debate that attention reorienting could be a potential mechanism for explaining activation in rTPJ observed during self-other distinction required in”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Mitchell, 2008

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Young et al., 2010

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Self-projection and simulation are important mechanisms for interpersonal understanding, as suggested by findings that shared neural activations between self and other underlie our ability to represent the internal states of others.

    “Self-projection and simulation are important mechanisms for interpersonal understanding, as suggested by findings that shared neural activations between self and other underlie our ability to represent the internal states of others (Bastiaansen et al., 2009;Mitchell, 2009;Singer and Lamm, 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bastiaansen et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Mitchell, 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Singer and Lamm, 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    In the motor domain, studies on agency and inhibiting imitative tendencies have revealed that rTPJ as well as prefrontal areas play an important role in disentangling one's own motor representations from those of others.

    “Hence, studies on agency as well as on inhibiting imitative tendencies have revealed that rTPJ as well as prefrontal areas play an important role in disentangling one's own motor representations from those of others.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Brass et al., 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Brass et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Spengler et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Considerable behavioral research has been devoted to egocentricity in the cognitive domain, but hardly anything is known about biased judgments in the affective domain.

    “Although considerable behavioral research has been devoted to egocentricity in the cognitive domain (Royzman et al., 2003;Pronin, 2008), hardly anything is known about biased judgments in the affective domain.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Royzman et al., 2003

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Pronin, 2008

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    All experiments were performed with independently recruited samples of right-handed female undergraduate students, with no participant having participated in any other experiment.

    “All experiments were performed with independently recruited samples of right-handed female undergraduate students (i.e., no participant had participated in any of the other experiments).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    rSMG so far has not been specifically associated with affective or cognitive aspects of empathy.

    “Interestingly, rSMG so far has not been specifically associated neither with affective (Lamm et al., 2011) nor with cognitive aspects of empathy (Shamay-Tsoory, 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Lamm et al., 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Shamay-Tsoory, 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    These results suggest that rSMG is causally involved in overcoming EEB, as EEB increased when disrupting rSMG functioning by rTMS.

    “These results suggest that rSMG is causally involved in overcoming EEB, as EEB increased when disrupting rSMG functioning by rTMS.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Shortening stimulation time and hence time for regulatory control diminished the ability to overcome egocentric judgments, and substantially increased the effect size of EEB.

    “Thus, as expected, shortening stimulation time and hence the time for regulatory control diminished the ability to overcome egocentric judgments, and substantially increased the effect size of EEB as documented by a ␩ p 2 that was considerably higher than in the first behavioral and the TMS experiment (0.277 vs 0.074 and 0.098, respectively).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    1 Hz rTMS is generally thought to inhibit cortical activity.

    “We tested these opposing hypotheses by temporarily disrupting rSMG functionality using 1 Hz rTMS, which is generally thought to inhibit cortical activity (Rossi et al., 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rossi et al., 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The direct comparison of EEB with attention reorienting pointed in the same direction, suggesting that overcoming EEB versus overcoming attentional focus is attained by activations that might be centered on different subdivisions of rTPJ/rSMG.

    “The direct comparison (by means of a conjunction) of EEB with attention reorienting pointed in the same direction, suggesting that overcoming EEB versus overcoming attentional focus is attained by activations that might be centered on different subdivisions of rTPJ/rSMG.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Interpretationreasoning

    rSMG might only be relevant if self-related affective representations need to be disentangled from other-related ones, such as when being in an incongruent emotional state oneself.

    “Hence, rSMG might only be relevant if self-related affective representations need to be disentangled from other-related ones, such as when being in an incongruent emotional state oneself.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The study only investigated female undergraduate participants, limiting the validity of the present results to the female population.

    “In addition, to increase statistical homogeneity, we only investigated female undergraduate participants, limiting the validity of the present results to the female population.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
24 of 24

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Egocentricity effects are stronger at the onset of stimulation, and shorter stimulation times might make it easier to detect such effects behaviorally, as the control processes involved in overcoming them might not have been engaged yet.

    “Hence, we assumed that egocentricity effects are stronger at the onset of stimulation, and that shorter stimulation times might make it easier to detect such effects behaviorally, as the control processes involved in overcoming them might not have been engaged yet.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Experimental paradigms allowing the specific investigation of emotional egocentricity bias (EEB) are absent, and the neural mechanisms underlying this bias remain fully unexplored.

    “Experimental paradigms allowing the specific investigation of emotional egocentricity bias (EEB) are absent, and the neural mechanisms underlying this bias remain fully unexplored.”
2 of 2

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?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Bilateral visual connectivity claim conflicts with listed results

    Minor

    The text reports increased connectivity with bilateral visual cortex, but Table 3 lists only a left inferior occipital visual-cortex cluster among the significant results.

  • Congruency differences have opposite signs to the reported marginal means

    Minor

    Both reported incongruent-minus-congruent differences are positive, whereas the reported overall means put incongruent judgments 0.390 units below congruent judgments. With equal numbers of self- and other-judgment trials, those signs cannot both be correct.

  • TMS planned comparison has incompatible degrees of freedom

    Minor

    The TMS experiment has 45 participants in two groups, so a between-group comparison should have 43 denominator degrees of freedom, as reported for the experiment's ANOVA-not 47.

  • Behavioral Experiment 2 self-judgment comparison conflicts with its mean and SE

    Minor

    For the reported within-subject comparison, a mean difference of −0.025 with SE 0.005 gives a t statistic of −5 and thus F of approximately 25, not F less than 1.

4 of 4

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Related

Authors
Silani, G., Lamm, C., Ruff, C. C., & Singer, T.
Affiliations
  • University of Vienna (AT)
  • University of Zurich (CH)
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Publisher
Society for Neuroscience
Published
2013-09-25
Volume
33
Issue
39
Pages
15466-15476
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
DOI
10.1523/jneurosci.1488-13.2013
PMC
PMC6618458
OpenAlex
W2149325275
Cited by
511
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 96 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 12
FWCI
35.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (FP7/2007-2013)
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FP7/2007-2013)
  • Vienna Science and Technology Fund (CS11-016)
  • Universität Zürich
  • National Center of Competence in Research Affective Sciences - Emotions in Individual Behaviour and Social Processes
  • FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (205557)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Keywords
proprioception, social cognition, right temporoparietal junction, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, effective connectivity
MeSH terms
Brain, Brain Mapping, Emotions, Empathy, Humans, Photic Stimulation, Psychology, Social, Social Perception, Touch

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