Inconsistencies in Spontaneous and Intentional Trait Inferences

Overview

Journal Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci

Specialties Neurology
Social Sciences

Date 2011 Oct 19

PMID 22006990

Citations 44

Authors

Ning Ma

Marie Vandekerckhove

Kris Baetens

Frank Van Overwalle

Ruth Seurinck

Wim Fias

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study explores the fMRI correlates of observers making trait inferences about other people under conflicting social cues. Participants were presented with several behavioral descriptions involving an agent that implied a particular trait. The last behavior was either consistent or inconsistent with the previously implied trait. This was done under instructions that elicited either spontaneous trait inferences ('read carefully') or intentional trait inferences ('infer a trait'). The results revealed that when the behavioral descriptions violated earlier trait implications, regardless of instruction, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was more strongly recruited as well as the domain-general conflict network including the posterior medial frontal cortex (pmFC) and the right prefrontal cortex (rPFC). These latter two areas were more strongly activated under intentional than spontaneous instructions. These findings suggest that when trait-relevant behavioral information is inconsistent, not only is activity increased in the mentalizing network responsible for trait processing, but control is also passed to a higher level conflict monitoring network in order to detect and resolve the contradiction.

Citing Articles

One step too far: social cerebellum in norm-violating navigation.

Li M, Pu M, Ma Q, Heleven E, Baeken C, Baetens K Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2024; 19(1).

PMID: 38536051 PMC: 11037276. DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsae027.

A Fluid Self-Concept: How the Brain Maintains Coherence and Positivity across an Interconnected Self-Concept While Incorporating Social Feedback.

Elder J, Davis T, Hughes B J Neurosci. 2023; 43(22):4110-4128.

PMID: 37156606 PMC: 10255005. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1951-22.2023.

Mind your step: social cerebellum in interactive navigation.

Li M, Pu M, Baetens K, Baeken C, Deroost N, Heleven E Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2022; 18(1).

PMID: 35866545 PMC: 9949501. DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsac047.

The posterior cerebellum and social action sequences in a cooperative context.

Pu M, Heleven E, Ma Q, Bylemans T, Baetens K, Haihambo N Cerebellum. 2022; 22(4):559-577.

PMID: 35648333 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01420-5.

This is not who you are: The posterior cerebellum and stereotype-inconsistent action sequences.

Pu M, Ma Q, Heleven E, Delplanque J, Baetens K, Haihambo N Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2022; 22(5):1090-1107.

PMID: 35411417 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01005-z.

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