Social Understanding and the Brain: Complications with Autism and Schizophrenia

Researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen have found that brain cells in the mirror system of the organ can actually help people better understand actions seen in day-to-day life.

By using magnetic stimulation to temporarily disrupt normal processing areas of the brain, they found that certain areas are also involved in this understanding.

Twenty study participants were involved in the research, and came to the lab three times. On their first visit, brain scans were conducted. For the second and third, they received stimulation to their motor system that helped them perform a typical psychological task in which they watched brief clips from videos where actors were pantomiming various actions. Each participant watched approximately 250, after which they chose a picture of an object that matched the pantomimed action.

Researchers said this task was intended to gauge participants' understanding of the observed actions, as well as their performance for the task.

They used an innovative technique of magnetically simulating highly specific brain regions to temporarily disrupt normal processing in some areas, also known as continuous theta-burst stimulation. This helped researchers grasp a better understanding of how the disruption of one area could affect the understanding or performance of a specific task.

Researchers said they believe that getting a better grasp on these actions can help them better understand how those with autism or schizophrenia have difficulties with social interaction.

"Attaining knowledge of the processes underlying social understanding in people in general is an important part of the process of attaining knowledge of the underlying causes of the difficulties that some people diagnosed with autism and schizophrenia experience in sustaining social understanding. But it is important to emphasise that this is just one piece of the puzzle," Michael added, via a press release. "The findings may be interesting to therapists and psychiatrists who work with patients with schizophrenia or autism, or even to educational researchers."

What do you othink?

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Psychological Science.