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Ongoing neural development of affective theory of mind in adolescence
Vetter, Nora Weigelt, Sarah Dohnel, Katrin Smolka, Michael Kliegel, Matthias
Vetter, Nora
Weigelt, Sarah
Dohnel, Katrin
Smolka, Michael
Kliegel, Matthias
Abstract
Affective Theory of Mind (ToM), an important aspect of ToM, involves the understanding of affective mental states. This ability is critical in the developmental phase of adolescence, which is often related with socio-emotional problems. Using a developmentally sensitive behavioral task in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging, the present study investigated the neural development of affective ToM throughout adolescence. Eighteen adolescent (ages 12–14 years) and 18 young adult women (aged 19–25 years) were scanned while evaluating complex affective mental states depicted by actors in video clips. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) showed significantly stronger activation in adolescents in comparison to adults in the affective ToM condition. Current results indicate that the vmPFC might be involved in the development of affective ToM processing in adolescence.
Keywords
Date
2014
Type
Journal article
Journal
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
Book
Volume
9
Issue
7
Page Range
1022-1029
Article Number
ACU Department
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Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled