Social Working Memory: Neural Bases and Training

描述（由申请人提供）：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)这些机制如何在社会认知障碍人群中发挥作用，以及3)这些机制的哪些方面是可塑的和可以增强的。完成NRSA中提出的研究将帮助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上尚未被探索。具体目的1是研究社会工作记忆的结构和功能神经关联及其与社会认知能力的关系。为了实现这一目标，研究1使用A)功能性MRI方法测量社会工作记忆和认知工作记忆任务反应中的血氧依赖（BOLD）信号；B)结构MRI方法测量工作记忆任务期间整个大脑皮层厚度与功能激活的对应关系；C)社会认知能力标准化测量的表现，以了解社会认知的个体差异如何与功能和结构指标相对应。实际上，没有社会认知神经科学家接受过结构分析方法的培训。来自共同发起人Paul Thompson博士的皮质厚度分析培训将是获得NRSA奖学金的巨大好处。具体目的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通过神经激发的SWM训练干预实现了这一目标。研究2的参与者将完成社会工作记忆和标准化社会认知能力的训练前测量，为期12天的社会工作记忆或对照训练干预，以及社会工作记忆和标准化社会认知能力的训练后测量。包括自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）、精神分裂症和社交焦虑在内的许多精神疾病都表现出社会认知和认知工作记忆方面的双重或差异缺陷（Amir & Bomyea, 2011； Baron-Cohen等人，1985；Couture等人，2006;Dawson & Fernland, 1987; Goldman-Rakic, 1994; Pickup & Frith, 2001），但目前还没有研究将这两种心理过程联系起来。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，这可以导致未来关于这些系统如何在ASD、精神分裂症和/或社交焦虑等疾病中受损的假设。此外，这里开发的干预措施可以用于患有这些疾病的个体，以提高社会认知能力。

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.