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Cited by 176Action Observation and SynchronizationFace Recognition and PerceptionChild and Animal Learning Development

Brain mechanisms underlying the impact of attachment-related stress on social cognition

Open access
Nolte, Tobias, Bolling, Danielle Z., Hudac, Caitlin M., Fonagy, Peter, Mayes, Linda, Pelphrey, Kevin A.·2013·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
DOI 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00816PMC PMC3841757
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Abstract

Mentalizing, in particular the successful attribution of complex mental states to others, is crucial for navigating social interactions. This ability is highly influenced by external factors within one's daily life, such as stress. We investigated the impact of stress on the brain basis of mentalization in adults. Using a novel modification of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET-R) we compared the differential effects of two personalized stress induction procedures: a general stress induction (GSI) and an attachment-related stress induction (ASI). Participants performed the RMET-R at baseline and after each of the two inductions. Baseline results replicated and extended previous findings regarding the neural correlates of the RMET-R. Additionally, we identified brain regions associated with making complex age judgments from the same stimuli. Results after stress exposure showed that the ASI condition resulted in reduced mentalization-related activation in the left posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), left inferior frontal gyrus and left temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Moreover, the left middle frontal gyrus and left anterior insula showed greater functional connectivity to the left posterior STS after the ASI. Our findings indicate that attachment-related stress has a unique effect on the neural correlates of mentalization.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This fMRI study compared attachment-related stress induction (ASI) with general stress induction (GSI) on mentalization using a revised Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. ASI reduced mental-state accuracy and decreased activation in left posterior STS, left IFG, and left TPJ, with altered left posterior STS functional connectivity.

Key findings

  • At baseline, mental state > age judgments activated bilateral IFG (right t = 6.75; left t = 10.04), right posterior STS (t = 5.43), left posterior STS (t = 8.56), and dorsoMPFC (t = 6.51), among other regions; age > mental state judgments activated bilateral inferior parietal lobules, PCC/precuneus, right DLPFC, right inferior temporal gyrus, and left cerebellum.
  • Mental-state correct responses differed across conditions (F(2,24) = 3.59, p = 0.04), with lowest accuracy post-ASI (67.03%) vs baseline (74.70%) and post-GSI (74.98%); baseline vs post-ASI t(12) = 2.30, p < 0.05, and post-GSI vs post-ASI t(12) = 2.20, p < 0.05. Mental-state reaction times also differed (F(2,24) = 10.13, p = 0.01), with longest at baseline and shortest post-ASI. Age judgments showed no significant differences.
  • Post-ASI vs post-GSI during mental-state judgments showed reduced activation in left IFG (t = −2.93, p = 0.011; did not survive cluster correction), left posterior STS (t = −5.02, p < 0.001), and left TPJ (t = −4.83, p < 0.001). During age judgments, only left TPJ differed (t = −5.08, p < 0.001).
  • After ASI vs GSI, mental-state judgments showed greater functional connectivity to left posterior STS in left MFG (t = 4.90, p < 0.001) and left anterior insula (t = 5.24, p < 0.001). During age judgments, cuneus showed greater post-ASI connectivity, while bilateral anterior insula, right MTG/PHG/FFG, right dorsal ACC, and left FFG showed greater post-GSI connectivity.

Methods

  • Eighteen healthy right-handed adults were recruited; 15 remained for fMRI analysis (8 male; mean age 20.73 years, SD = 1.20, range 18–23), and behavioral analyses included 13 participants. Participants completed three fMRI runs: baseline, post-GSI, and post-ASI, with order balanced across participants. Personalized stress imagery scripts were created from recalled events rated 8 or above on a 10-point perceived stress scale.
  • The task was a revised RMET (RMET-R) with mental-state and age-judgment blocks; stimuli were shown for 3500 ms with 500 ms fixation, six trials per block, four blocks per task per condition. fMRI data were analyzed in Brain Voyager QX using random-effects GLMs; baseline mental state vs age contrast used FDR q < 0.05 with clusters ≥ 4 voxels. Stressor comparisons used a baseline-derived mask and paired t-tests (p < 0.05, cluster ≥ 4 voxels); PPI connectivity used a left posterior STS seed with cluster threshold 34 voxels.

Limitations

  • The paper states: the sample was relatively small (15 fMRI, 13 behavioral, 12 overlapping), preventing direct behavior–fMRI correlations and gender-difference analyses; the age control task’s difficulty/cognitive load was not well quantified; the sample lacked ethnic and developmental diversity; no psychophysiological indices such as heart rate variability or cortisol were reported; and the design cannot rule out other induced emotions, general social-script effects, positive-script priming, or whether effects are due to social vs non-social stressor nature or individual attachment differences.
  • The text also makes evident that the left IFG stress effect did not survive cluster correction, and behavioral data were lost for three participants due to software errors.

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

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00816

Cites

80 of 80 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 43 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Scores for subjective stress experience obtained at debriefing showed no difference in mean scores when comparing both stress conditions in a paired samples t-test [t(14) = 1.07, p = 0.34].

    “Scores for subjective stress experience (Wolpe, 1969) were obtained again at the beginning of the debriefing after scanning and showed no difference in mean scores when comparing both stress conditions in a paired samples t-test [t(14) = 1.07, p = 0.34].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The ASI condition resulted in reduced mentalization-related activation in the left posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), left inferior frontal gyrus and left temporoparietal junction (TPJ).

    “Results after stress exposure showed that the ASI condition resulted in reduced mentalization-related activation in the left posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), left inferior frontal gyrus and left temporoparietal junction (TPJ).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    A random-effects whole-brain GLM analysis identified a left posterior STS region (136 functional voxels) with greater activation to mental state vs. age judgments during the baseline RMET-R.

    “A random-effects whole-brain GLM analysis identified a left posterior STS region (136 functional voxels) with greater activation to mental state vs. age judgments during the baseline RMET-R.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The study identified a network of brain regions that responds differentially to age and mental state judgments during the RMET-R in the absence of any pre-task stress induction.

    “We identified a network of brain regions that responds differentially to age and mental state judgments during the RMET-R in the absence of any pre-task stress induction (Figure 1).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    Baseline results replicated and extended previous findings regarding the neural correlates of the RMET-R.

    “Baseline results replicated and extended previous findings regarding the neural correlates of the RMET-R.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 18
  • May combine two claims. 18
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1

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

    Findingown data

    The study identified brain regions associated with making complex age judgments from the same stimuli.

    “Additionally, we identified brain regions associated with making complex age judgments from the same stimuli.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Post-hoc comparisons for correct responses in mental state judgments showed significant differences between baseline and post-ASI [t(12) = 2.30, p < 0.05] and between post-GSI and post-ASI [t(12) = 2.20, p < 0.05], with highest accuracy at baseline and lowest post-ASI.

    “Post-hoc paired samples comparisons for correct responses in mental state judgments indicated that there were significant differences in the percentage of correct responses between baseline and post-ASI [t(12) = 2.30, p < 0.05] and between post-GSI and post-ASI [t(12) = 2.20, p < 0.05] with highest accuracy at baseline and lowest post-ASI.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Mean percentages of correct responses and reaction times comparing mental state and age judgments at baseline did not differ significantly.

    “Mean percentages of correct responses [t(12) = 0.21, p = 0.84] and reaction times [t(12) = 1.89, p = 0.08] comparing mental state and age judgments at baseline did not differ significantly.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    For age judgments, repeated measures ANOVA did not yield significant differences for either correct responses or reaction times across the three task conditions.

    “For age judgments, this analysis did not yield significant differences for either correct responses or reaction times.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    For mental state judgments, there were significant differences between task conditions for correct responses (F = 3.59, p = 0.04) and reaction times [F(2, 24) = 10.13, p = 0.01].

    “Results of the ANOVA for mental state judgments indicated significant differences between task conditions for correct responses (F = 3.59, p = 0.04) and reaction times [F(2, 24) = 10.13, p = 0.01].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Post-hoc t-tests for reaction times during mental state judgments revealed significant differences between baseline and post-GSI [t(12) = 4.12, p < 0.01] and between baseline and post-ASI [t(12) = 3.65, p < 0.01], with longest reaction times at baseline and shortest reaction times post-ASI.

    “Post-hoc t-tests for reaction times during mental state judgments revealed significant differences between baseline and post-GSI [t(12) = 4.12, p < 0.01] and between baseline and post-ASI [t(12) = 3.65, p < 0.01] with longest reaction times at baseline and shortest reaction times post-ASI.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Findingown data

    At baseline, mental state judgments (vs age judgments) showed increased activation in bilateral IFG, right posterior STS, left posterior insula, right middle temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, left middle and posterior STS, left parahippocampal gyrus, and dorsoMPFC.

    “Additional regions that were more active during mental state judgments included the left parahippocampal gyrus (t = 5.85, p < 0.0001) and dorsoMPFC (t = 6.51, p < 0.0001).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Attachment-related stress also significantly modulated activation during age judgments, but only in one region of the mentalizing network identified, the temporoparietal junction, and without significant behavioral changes.

    “Attachment-related stress also significantly modulated activation during age judgments, but only in one region of the mentalizing network we identified (TPJ), and without significant behavioral changes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The age judgment task and the mental state judgment task are comparable in difficulty or cognitive load, so differential activation can be interpreted as task-specific.

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

    Premisecitation

    Explicit mentalization involves the MPFC and TPJ.

    “In contrast, explicit mentalization, defined as controlled, conscious, verbal efforts to decode one's mental states, involves the MPFC and TPJ (Amodio and Frith, 2006; Saxe, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Amodio and Frith, 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Saxe, 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The presentation order of induction type was balanced between participants to control for carry-over effects.

    “The presentation order of induction type was balanced between participants in order to control for carry-over effects so that half of them re-experienced a GSI first and the other half re-experienced an ASI first.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductown data

    Two additional participants were excluded for failing to respond during the task for more than six consecutive trials (one full condition block).

    “Two additional participants were excluded for failing to respond during the task for more than six consecutive trials (one full condition block).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    After an attachment-related stressor, accuracy increased in the gender-detection control task and decreased in the mentalization task.

    “After the stressor, accuracy increased in the gender-detection control task and decreased in the mentalization task.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Nolte et al., submitted

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

    Premisecitation

    Strong triggering of the attachment system may be associated with a relative deactivation of the BOLD response in brain regions underpinning the mentalizing system.

    “Based on this and related evidence, it has been hypothesized that strong triggering of the attachment system may be associated with a relative deactivation of the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response in brain regions underpinning the mentalizing system (Bartels and Zeki, 2000, 2004; Mayes, 2006; Satpute and Lieberman, 2006; Lieberman, 2007).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bartels and Zeki, 2000

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Mayes, 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Satpute and Lieberman, 2006

      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

    The two-volume discrepancy was due to a scanner operator inconsistency, and did not overlap with data acquisition during the presentation of task stimuli.

    “This two-volume discrepancy was due to a scanner operator inconsistency, and did not overlap with data acquisition during the presentation of task stimuli.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductown data

    After exclusions, 15 participants remained for analysis (eight male) with a mean age of 20.73 years (SD = 1.20), range 18-23 years.

    “After these exclusions, 15 participants remained for analysis (eight male) with a mean age of 20.73 years (SD = 1.20), range 18–23 years.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Premisereasoning

    The RMET assesses aspects of both explicit and implicit mentalization.

    “The RMET assesses aspects of both explicit and implicit mentalization, as it entails effortful and conscious decoding of intentional mental states as well as automatic processing of facial and emotionally salient stimulus components.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    One participant was excluded for having head motion drift greater than 3 mm or degrees from position at the first volume acquisition during the functional scan.

    “One participant was excluded for having head motion drift greater than 3 mm or degrees from position at the first volume acquisition during the functional scan.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductown data

    For one participant, the first block of the ASI condition was cut out due to an isolated period of motion.

    “For one participant, the first block of the ASI condition was cut out due to an isolated period of motion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Premisecitation

    The anterior insula has been associated with subjective awareness and emotion processing, and has been suggested to hold a key role in empathy.

    “The AI has been associated with subjective awareness (Craig, 2009) and emotion processing (Critchley et al., 2005; Hennenlotter et al., 2005; Jabbi et al., 2007), and has been suggested to hold a key role in empathy (for review, see Singer et al., 2009).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Craig, 2009

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Critchley et al., 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Hennenlotter et al., 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    The current design cannot decide whether the behavioral effects of faster and less accurate responses are specifically related to negative social scripts or whether positive social scripts might have yielded similar priming responses.

    “With the current design it is also undecided whether the behavioral effects (faster and less accurate) are specifically related to the negative social scripts or whether positive social scripts might have yielded similar priming responses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The study had a relatively small sample size: 15 participants for a non-clinical sample, with behavioral analyses limited to 13 participants, 12 of whom overlapped with the fMRI group.

    “First, for a non-clinical sample, 15 participants may be considered a relatively small sample size. Further, behavioral analyses were limited to only 13 participants, 12 of which overlapped with the fMRI group.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Premisecitation

    The anterior insula has been shown to be preferentially active in difficult versus easy moral judgments.

    “Further, along with the MFG (which was also found in the present study to show increased functional connectivity with the left posterior STS during mental state judgments post-ASI), AI has been shown to be preferentially active in difficult vs. easy moral judgments (Greene et al., 2004).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Greene et al., 2004

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The sample lacked ethnic and developmental diversity, limiting generalizability.

    “Second, there are limitations due to the lack of diversity in the specific sample investigated. Future research should assess the neural processes at the focus of the current study in populations more ethnically and developmentally diverse to allow for generalizability.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Premisecitation

    The specific situations used for ASI are not only social in nature but are additionally characterized by the involved other being relevant and salient to set the individual's attachment system in motion.

    “These specific situations, according to attachment theory (e.g., Bowlby, 1982; George and West, 2001) are not only social in nature but are additionally characterized by the fact that the involved other is relevant and salient to set the individual's attachment system in motion.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Bowlby, 1982

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites George and West, 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The current design cannot disentangle whether the differential stress effects reported are more generally due to the difference between their social versus non-social nature and whether individual differences in attachment may moderate the impairment in mentalizing.

    “Furthermore, future studies will have to disentangle whether the differential stress effects reported are more generally due to the difference between their social vs. non-social nature and whether individual differences in attachment may moderate the impairment in mentalizing (e.g., Vrtička and Vuilleumier, 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Vrtička and Vuilleumier, 2012

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    Behavioral data from three participants were lost to software errors.

    “In addition, behavioral data from three participants were lost to software errors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The findings lend preliminary support to the biobehavioral switch model, as participants make post-attachment-related-stress judgments faster but at the cost of more errors, in line with reflexive 'jumping to conclusion' responses.

    “Our findings lend preliminary support to the biobehavioral switch model Fonagy et al. (2011) as participants make post-ASI judgments that are faster but at the cost of more errors which is in line with reflexive, “jumping to conclusion” responses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fonagy et al., 2011

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: The attachment-related and general stress inductions induced comparable levels of general stress, so differences between them can be attributed to attachment-related content rather than stress intensity.

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

    Premisecitation

    Previous findings on numerical processing highlight the role of the intraparietal sulcus for both non-symbolic numerical abilities and symbolic numerical processing.

    “Previous findings on numerical processing (Dehaene et al., 2003; Cantlon et al., 2006; Cohen Kadosh et al., 2007; Santens et al., 2009) have highlighted the role of the intraparietal sulcus for both non-symbolic numerical abilities and symbolic numerical processing.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Dehaene et al., 2003

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Cantlon et al., 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Cohen Kadosh et al., 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Re-experiencing attachment-related stress specifically interferes with both behavioral performance and the functioning of brain regions associated with mentalizing in healthy young adults.

    “The results confirmed that re-experiencing attachment-related stress specifically interferes with both behavioral performance and with the functioning of brain regions associated with mentalizing in a sample of healthy young adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The attachment-related and general stress inductions induced comparable levels of general stress, so differences between them can be attributed to attachment-related content rather than stress intensity.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The pattern of functional connectivity to the left posterior superior temporal sulcus during age judgments after attachment-related stress induction implies a dissociation of the left posterior superior temporal sulcus from brain regions subserving lower level face processing and higher level empathic processes, potentially reflecting a shift toward non-mentalization.

    “Taken together with the decrease in functional connectivity between the left posterior STS and bilateral fusiform gyrus during age judgments post-ASI, the identified pattern of functional connectivity to the left posterior STS during age judgments post-ASI (compared with post-GSI) implies a dissociation of the left posterior STS from brain regions subserving both lower level face processing (fusif”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The age judgment task and the mental state judgment task are comparable in difficulty or cognitive load, so differential activation can be interpreted as task-specific.

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

    Study design and conductown data

    For 13 of the 18 participants, behavioral data including percentage of correct mental state and age judgment responses and reaction times were recorded during the scan.

    “For 13 of the 18 participants (including those removed from fMRI analyses), behavioral data including percentage of correct mental state and age judgment responses and mental state and age judgment reaction times were recorded during the scan.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
31 of 31

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The personalized ASI and GSI scripts successfully induced the intended attachment-related and general stress states, respectively.

    “In this way, two types of inductions were created: attachment-related stress inductions (ASI) and general stress inductions (GSI).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The modified age-judgment task is a valid control for mental state judgments, isolating mentalization-related processes.

    “This modification was implemented in order to increase the difficulty of the control task, rendering it more comparable to the experimental task.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The attachment-related and general stress inductions induced comparable levels of general stress, so differences between them can be attributed to attachment-related content rather than stress intensity.

    “While we took efforts to match the inductions on the level of induced stress, we do not have data that speak to the simultaneous induction of other emotions and underpinning neural networks that may have occurred with more intensity during ASI (such as fear, anger, sadness, or a complex combination thereof).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The age judgment task and the mental state judgment task are comparable in difficulty or cognitive load, so differential activation can be interpreted as task-specific.

    “limitations related to the age task should be addressed in future studies by using a task for which the difficulty or cognitive load between task and control task can be quantified better.”
4 of 4

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?

  • A recent neuroimaging study found that the nature of the stressor (interpersonal vs. non-interpersonal) significantly impacted the recruitment of brain regions involved in mentalizing.

    “A recent neuroimaging study converges with this notion in finding that the nature of the stressor (interpersonal vs. non-interpersonal) significantly impacted the recruitment of brain regions involved in mentalizing (Nolte et al., 2013).”

    From Investigating the association between parental reflective functioning and distress tolerance in motherhood. (2015) · cites this paper as Nolte et al., 2013

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Consistentt(14) = 1.07reported p = .34 · recomputed p = .303

    “t(14) = 1.07, p = .34”

    The paper states a false-discovery-rate adjustment

  • Consistentt(12) = 0.21reported p = .84 · recomputed p = .837

    “t(12) = 0.21, p = .84”

  • Consistentt(12) = 1.89reported p = .08 · recomputed p = .083

    “t(12) = 1.89, p = .08”

  • Consistentt(12) = 2.3reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .040

    “t(12) = 2.30, p < .05”

  • Consistentt(12) = 2.2reported p < .05 · recomputed p = .048

    “t(12) = 2.20, p < .05”

  • Consistentt(12) = 4.12reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .001

    “t(12) = 4.12, p < .01”

  • Consistentt(12) = 3.65reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .003

    “t(12) = 3.65, p < .01”

  • ConsistentF(2, 24) = 10.13reported p = .01 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(2, 24) = 10.13, p = .01”

    The paper prints p at a floor (such as p < .001)

8 of 8

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.

  • Baseline is not the highest mental-state accuracy condition

    Minor

    The text says mental-state accuracy was highest at baseline, but Table 1 reports 74.70% at baseline and a higher 74.98% after the general stress induction.

1 of 1

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Related

Authors
Nolte, T., Bolling, D. Z., Hudac, C. M., Fonagy, P., Mayes, L., & Pelphrey, K. A.
Affiliations
  • Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (GB)
  • Yale University (US)
  • University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
Corresponding author
Nolte, Tobias
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2013
Volume
7
Pages
816-816
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fnhum.2013.00816
PMC
PMC3841757
OpenAlex
W2104967339
Cited by
176
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
16.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lincoln (University of Nebraska) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • International Psychoanalytical Association
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (NF-SI-0510-10228)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH084080)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD057173)
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
mentalization, social cognition, theory of mind, stress induction, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, posterior superior temporal sulcus, temporoparietal junction, inferior frontal gyrus, anterior insula, middle frontal gyrus, functional connectivity

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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 2026-10-09.

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 ›

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