Understanding Animate Agents: Distinct Roles for the Social Network and Mirror System.

A study was conducted to determine which of two neural networks—the social network and mirror systems—was more closely associated with the concept of animacy. Data were obtained from 22 participants who viewed stimuli—12 animations of moving shapes—while being scanned in a 3.0-T functional magnetic...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Psychological Science. Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 469 - 475
Autores principales: Wheatley, Thalia, Milleville, Shawn C., Martin, Alex
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: HWW Temp June 2007
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:A study was conducted to determine which of two neural networks—the social network and mirror systems—was more closely associated with the concept of animacy. Data were obtained from 22 participants who viewed stimuli—12 animations of moving shapes—while being scanned in a 3.0-T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine. Findings revealed that activity across the entire social network increased when the moving shapes were interpreted and imagined as animate beings rather than inanimate objects. It was found that while viewing and imagining the moving shapes engaged the mirror system, only activation of the social network was modulated by animacy. Findings are discussed in detail.