Supramodal neural networks support top‐down processing of social signals

Human Brain Mapping, vol. 42, pp. 676–689

Abstract

The perception of facial and vocal stimuli is driven by sensory input and cognitive top-down influences. Important top-down influences are attentional focus and supramodal social memory representations. The present study investigated the neural networks underlying these top-down processes and their role in social stimulus classification. In a neuroimaging study with 45 healthy participants, we employed a social adaptation of the Implicit Association Test. Attentional focus was modified via the classification task, which compared two domains of social perception (emotion and gender), using the exactly same stimulus set. Supramodal memory representations were addressed via congruency of the target categories for the classification of auditory and visual social stimuli (voices and faces). Functional magnetic resonance imaging identified attention-specific and supramodal networks. Emotion classification networks included bilateral anterior insula, pre-supplementary motor area, and right inferior frontal gyrus. They were pure attention-driven and independent from stimulus modality or congruency of the target concepts. No neural contribution of supramodal memory representations could be revealed for emotion classification. In contrast, gender classification relied on supramodal memory representations in rostral anterior cingulate and ventromedial prefrontal cortices. In summary, different domains of social perception involve different top-down processes which take place in clearly distinguishable neural networks.

Authors 6

1. Melina Sonderfeld Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Medical School JARA-Translational Brain Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany

   JARA‐Translational Brain Medicine RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   JARA-Translational Brain Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Klaus Mathiak Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Medical School JARA-Translational Brain Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany

   JARA‐Translational Brain Medicine RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   JARA-Translational Brain Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Gianna S. Häring Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Medical School JARA-Translational Brain Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany

   JARA‐Translational Brain Medicine RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   JARA-Translational Brain Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Ute Habel Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Medical School JARA-Translational Brain Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany

   JARA‐Translational Brain Medicine RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   JARA-Translational Brain Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. Raquel E. Gur

   University of Pennsylvania

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA

   Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

6. Martin Klasen corresponding Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Medical Faculty Medical School JARA-Translational Brain Medicine Interdisciplinary Training Centre for Medical Education and Patient Safety-AIXTRA

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School RWTH Aachen Aachen Germany

   Interdisciplinary Training Centre for Medical Education and Patient Safety ‐ AIXTRA, Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   JARA‐Translational Brain Medicine RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Interdisciplinary Training Centre for Medical Education and Patient Safety - AIXTRA, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   JARA-Translational Brain Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany