Neural basis for inferring false beliefs and social emotions in others among individuals with schizophrenia and those at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Inferring beliefs and social emotions of others has different neural substrates and possibly different roles in the pathophysiology of different clinical phases of schizophrenia. The current study investigated the neural basis for inferring others ’ beliefs and social emotions, as individual concepts, in 17 subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR), 16 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. Brain activity significantly differed from normal in both the left superior temporal sulcus (STS) and the inferior frontal gyrus (IF G) in the schizophrenia group while inferring others’ beliefs, whereas those of UHR group were in the middle of those in the schizophrenia and healthy-control groups.

Source: Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging - November 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Yosuke Takano, Yuta Aoki, Noriaki Yahata, Yuki Kawakubo, Hideyuki Inoue, Norichika Iwashiro, Tatsunobu Natsubori, Shinsuke Koike, Wataru Gonoi, Hiroki Sasaki, Hidemasa Takao, Kiyoto Kasai, Hidenori Yamasue Source Type: research