Social Working Memory: Neural Bases and Training

描述(申请人提供)：我的总体研究目标是进一步了解1)指导人类社会智力的大脑机制，2)这些机制如何在患有社会认知障碍的人群中发挥作用，以及3)这些机制的哪些方面是可塑性的，可以增强。完成这项NRSA中提出的研究将有助于我直接朝着这些长期目标努力。该提案的主要目的是测试社会工作记忆是否是社会认知能力的基本机制。迄今为止，社会工作记忆在行为和神经方面尚未得到研究。具体目标1是研究社会工作记忆的结构和功能神经联系，以及它们与社会认知能力的联系。为了达到这一目的，研究1)使用功能磁共振方法来测量对社会工作记忆和认知工作记忆任务的反应的血氧依赖(BOLD)信号，B)结构磁共振方法来测量整个大脑的皮质厚度如何与工作记忆任务中的功能激活相对应，以及C)在社会认知能力的标准化测量上的表现，以了解社会认知的个体差异如何与功能和结构指数相对应。实际上，没有一位社会认知神经学家接受过这项提议中使用的结构分析方法的培训。联合赞助人保罗·汤普森博士提供的皮质厚度分析培训将是获得NRSA奖学金的巨大好处。具体目标2是确定社会工作记忆训练是否能提高社会认知能力。研究2通过神经启发的SWM训练干预实现了这一目标。研究二完成训练前社会工作记忆和标准化社会认知能力的测量，12d社会工作记忆或对照训练干预，以及训练后社会工作记忆和标准化社会认知能力的测量。许多精神疾病，包括自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)、精神分裂症和社交焦虑，在社会认知和认知工作记忆方面表现出双重或不同的缺陷(Amir&Bomyea，2011；Baron-Cohen et al.，1985；Couture et al.，2006；Dawson&Fernland，1987；Goldman-Rakic，1994；Pick&Frith，2001；)，然而，现有的研究尚未将这两个心理过程联系起来。拟议的研究将提供关于工作记忆和社会认知如何在行为和神经上相互作用的见解，这可能导致未来关于这些系统在自闭症、精神分裂症和/或社交焦虑等疾病中如何受损的假设。此外，这里开发的干预措施可以用于患有这些障碍的个人，以提高社会认知能力。 公共卫生相关性：成功的日常社会互动需要跟踪各种社会认知信息，如人与人之间的特殊特征和关系。拟议的“神经启发”社交工作记忆干预措施的开发可以用于一些与社会认知缺陷相关的障碍，包括自闭症谱系障碍和精神分裂症，以改善他们的日常功能。在研究二中，社会工作记忆训练的有效性在健康样本中的证据也可以导致针对具有典型社会认知能力的个体发展社会工作记忆训练干预，以进一步提高其社会认知能力。好了！

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): My overall research goals are to further understanding of 1) the brain mechanisms guiding human social intelligence, 2) how these mechanisms work in populations with social cognitive disorders, and 3) what aspects of these mechanisms are plastic and can be enhanced. Completion of the studies proposed in this NRSA would help me directly work towards these long-term goals. The primary objectives of the proposal are to test whether social working memory, which to date has been unexplored behaviorally and neurally, is a basic mechanism underlying social cognitive ability. Specific aim 1 is to examine the structural and functional neural correlates of social working memory and their association with social cognitive abilities. To address this aim, Study 1 uses A) functional MRI methods to measure blood oxygenated dependent (BOLD) signal in response to social working memory and cognitive working memory tasks B) structural MRI methods to measure how cortical thickness throughout the brain corresponds with functional activation during the working memory tasks and C) performance on a standardized measure of social cognitive ability to see how individual differences in social cognition correspond with functional and structural indices. Virtually no social cognitive neuroscientists are trained in structural analysis methods used in this proposal. Training in the cortical thickness analysis from co-sponsor Dr. Paul Thompson will be a huge benefit of receiving NRSA fellowship. Specific aim 2 is to determine whether social working memory training improves social cognitive ability. Study 2 achieves this aim with a neurally-inspired SWM training intervention. Participants in Study 2 will complete pre-training measures of social working memory and standardized social cognitive ability, a 12 day social working memory or control training intervention, and post-training measures of social working memory and standardized social cognitive ability. Many psychiatric conditions including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and social anxiety show dual or differential deficits in social cognition and cognitive working memory (Amir & Bomyea, 2011; Baron-Cohen et al., 1985; Couture et al., 2006; Dawson & Fernland, 1987; Goldman-Rakic, 1994; Pickup & Frith, 2001;), however no extant research has linked these two psychological processes. The proposed studies will offer insight as to how working memory and social cognition may interact behaviorally and neurally, which can lead to future hypotheses about how these systems may be impaired in disorders such as ASD, schizophrenia and/or social anxiety. Moreover, the interventions developed here could be used in individuals with these disorders to improve social cognitive ability. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Successful everyday social interaction requires keeping track of various amounts of social cognitive information, such as the particular characteristics and relationships among people. Development of the proposed "neurally inspired" social working memory interventions could be used in a number of disorders associated with social cognitive deficits, including autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia to better their everyday functioning. Evidence of social working memory training effectiveness in the healthy sample in Study 2 could also lead to the development social working memory training interventions for individuals with typical social cognitive ability to further improve their social cognitive competence. !