Socio-cognitive Functions Research Articles

Social Cognition and Neuro-cognition in Patients with Bipolar Disorder, Their First-Degree Relatives and Healthy Controls.

Background:Studies focusing on assessing social cognition deficits in schizophrenia have been expanded to bipolar disorder considering the similarities shared between the two conditions. Existing research has identified significant deficits in social cognitive skills independent of mood states and neurocognitive deficits, which could indicate the potentiality of this domain to be an endophenotype for bipolar disorder.Methods:The current study assesses the impairments in social cognition in patients with bipolar disorder and their first degree relatives, simultaneously testing for neurocognition as well, and comparing their performance to healthy controls. Fifty four participants were recruited, with 18 participants in each group. MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery was used to test neurocognition and Social Cognition Rating Tool in Indian Setting was administered for testing social cognition.Results:Significant deficits were found in social cognition and neurocognition (at p<.01) in the patient group when compared to both probands and healthy controls but no difference between probands and healthy controls. This finding established impairments in socio-cognitive functioning in remitted patients. Conclusion: The study has identified persistent deficits in social and neuro-cognition despite remission, having significant clinical implications in terms developing remediation programs for social cognition and planning early intervention as social cognition deficits have been identified as potential risk factors.

Intraoperative brain mapping during awake surgery in symptomatic supratentorial cavernomas.

Complete resection of symptomatic supratentorial cavernoma (SCA) and removal of the surrounding gliotic area is recommended to minimize the risk of persistent seizures or (re)bleeding. Surgery of SCA located in an eloquent area, can carry out severe postoperative neurological morbidity. We report a study aimed to assess feasibility, extent of resection and outcome after surgical removal of CA by cortico-subcortical intraoperative brain stimulation (ioBS) in the awake patient. Six patients diagnosed of symptomatic SCA located on an eloquent area and operated on while awake under local anaesthesia ioBS, were included. Preoperative planning included neuropsychologic assessment of language-related functions, sociocognitive functions and executive functions. Intraoperatively, we recorded the results achieved in the planned neuropsychological tasks when stimulation was applied (cortical and subcortical). Postoperative control 3D MRI was scheduled at 1 month after surgery to calculate extent of resection. Neuropsychological assessment at 6 months after surgery was performed in all cases. Six patients (5 females, 1 male) aged 24-48 years were included in our study. Locations of the lesions were right insular (n=1), left insular (n=1), left temporo-insular (n=1), left temporal (n=2) and left frontal (n=1). In all patients, positive findings were obtained during ioBS. In 5 patients, complete surgical resection was achieved. Two patients had postoperative transient neurological deficits, one case of hemiparesis, one case of dysnomia, both cleared over a 6-month period. Clinical follow-up revealed that all patients experienced complete recovery from preoperative symptoms within a year and five patients with seizures showed marked improvement and eventually quit antiepileptic drugs. Neuropsychological assessment at 6 months provided normal results compared to preoperative baseline in all domains. Our study suggests that ioBS in the awake surgery of symptomatic SCA located in eloquent areas, allows to increase the rate of complete resection, minimizing postoperative neurological and neuropsychological deficit, and improving postoperative seizures control.

Investigating Sociocognitive Functions of Mother Tongue in a Postgraduate EFL Classroom in Pakistan

Recent studies, however, have shown that MT serves a symbolic tool and can be way more effective in L2 learning than the exclusive use of TL. While many studies have examined the extent and functions of MT, only a few have explored the sociocognitive functions using Vygotsky's sociocultural (SCT) framework. The present study, therefore, adopted SCT to examine the amount and sociocognitive functions of MT. Classroom observations and stimulated recalls interviews were used to collect data from MBA students (n=6). Results showed that, learners MT use made up only 14% of the total amount of speech in L2 classroom. Most importantly, MT performed important functions, such as scaffolding, intersubjectivity and cognitive regulation. MT facilitated vocabulary learning in L2 through scaffolded help; created intersubjectivity by increasing motivation, reducing anxiety, and helped internalize L2 through cognitive self-regulation. A number of implications for classroom pedagogy and language policy have also been discussed.

Popular Song Creativity in the Socio-cultural Context

This article investigates the influence of modern social processes on musical culture, in particular, on vocal pop songs in the Ukrainian context. The culturological vector in the formation of popular vocal and song creativity as a mass culture in the context of the social and historical stage of human existence is emphasized, the concept of pop vocal music is considered. One of the most serious stages in the development of pop music culture in the context of social processes, the authors consider the problem of simplifying the concept of pop vocal popular art, its humiliation in comparison with academic vocal culture. At the same time, in the context of modern social and historical development, the emphasis is on the formation of a special kind of mass art-popular art, which becomes a mirror of socio-historical events that are important for a particular time. At the same time, in the context of modern social and historical development, the emphasis is on the formation of a special kind of mass art-popular art, which becomes a mirror of socio-historical events that are important for a particular time. The authors provide their statements about the presence in vocal and pop music of important psychological phenomena of thought, feeling, sensation, perception, judgment, which are essentially a symbolic composition of personal consciousness. It is determined that such symbolism is most fully and deeply revealed in the context of the genre content of pop vocal performance, which today is defined as a new academicism, i.e. deep and concretized professionalization that provides its own socio-communicative and expressive-artistic canons, forms the basis for understanding and interpreting events of modernity and socio-cognitive function.

In the Light of the Environment: Evolution Through Biogrammars Not Programmers

Biological understanding of human cognitive functions is incomplete because of failure to understand the evolution of complex functions and organisms in general. Here, that failure is attributed to an aspect of the standard neo-Darwinian synthesis, namely commitment to evolution by natural selection of genetic programs in stable environments, a position that cannot easily explain the evolution of complexity. When we turn to consider more realistic, highly changeable environments, however, another possibility becomes clearer. An alternative to genetic programs—dubbed “biogrammars”—is proposed here to deal with complex, changing environments and explain evolving complexity from pre-genetic life to human socio-cognitive functions.

Integrated neurocognitive therapy in chronic schizophrenic inpatients: preliminary data and considerations.

The present paper aims at studying the efficacy of the Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT), according to Roder's model, in a group of chronic schizophrenics in a long term residential condition. This kind of treatment is particularly interesting because, according to the most recent studies concerning schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental disorder, allows to act on the neuro- and socio- cognitions areas, which are the most deteriorated ones. Moreover the INT program includes also computer aided activities (Cog PacK), which largely proved their efficacy on neurocognition. The study sample consists of 10 inpatients suffering of Schizophrenia (according to DSM-5), 5 Male and 5 Female, average age 52, disorder average length 24,9 years, with IQ not <80. The sample took part in the 18 months INT program and has been evaluated through the neurocognitive set RBANS and MCST (modified version of WCST for the survey of the executive functions: abstraction, categorization, set shifting at the beginning of the treatment (T0), after 12 months (T1), and at its end, after 18 months (T2). As regards neurocognition, starting from the preliminary result analysis, the only statistical significance refers to time factor concerning the immediate memory measured by RBANS at T2. We can also point out an improvement trend in T1 evaluations for the single cognitive functions and for the general cognitive profile. Concerning the executive functions (MCST), even without any statistical significance, a general improvement trend is present (completed categories, persisting and not persisting mistakes). The data presented, even in a numerically reduced sample, encourage however an optimistic perspective concerning the INT rehabilitation use in schizophrenic inpatients, substantially confirming the data already present in literature. We have to pay specific attention even in the evaluation of computerized programs, whose use can aid the general sociocognitive functioning. We hope that later and wider studies will support what we have herein preliminarly presented and discussed.

Political Communication and Popular Literature: An Analysis of Political Jingles in Nigerian Electoral Discourse

To win the support of the electorates, Nigerian politicians engage diverse resources during electoral campaigns. Some of these resources include political jingles. This study examines political discursive practices and their socio-cognitive functions in the political jingles of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. This is to illuminate the politicians’ sociopolitical evaluations of the electorates. The data for this study comprise 50 political jingles of the presidential campaigns of the two major political parties in the country, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). This study is anchored on linguistic and literary theoretical perspectives using Critical Discourse Analysis and Sociology of Literature, respectively, to reveal the inherent meanings in, and socio-cultural implications of, the discourse of the sampled political jingles. Data analysis identifies political jingles as face-saving, assertive and educative acts. It also notes that implicatures, names, lexemes, religious allusions, evidentiality and code-switching are ideologically employed in the political jingles to enhance the politicians’ personalities and acceptance among the electorates.

Face-to-face opening phase in Japanese macaques’ social play enhances and sustains participants’ engagement in subsequent play interaction

A face-to-face "opening phase" in human interaction serves as a platform for the interactants to initiate and manage their interaction collaboratively. This study investigated whether, as is the case in humans, a face-to-face opening phase in animal interaction serves to manage a subsequent interaction and establish interactants' engagement. We compared the dyadic play fighting of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) initiated with and without a face-to-face opening phase. Our observations showed that play sessions with a face-to-face opening phase lasted longer than did sessions without one. Furthermore, our results indicate that facing toward playmates was a sign of interactants' engagement. In sessions with a face-to-face opening phase, both players were likely to gain an advantage over their playmates, whereas in sessions without such an opening phase, only an individual who unidirectionally faced toward another individual who looked away when play began was likely to maintain an advantage over a long period. Our findings demonstrate that a face-to-face opening phase has a socio-cognitive function to establish and sustain interactants' social engagement during subsequent interaction not only in humans but also in Japanese macaques.

Factors Associated With Psychosocial Functioning and Outcome of Individuals With Recent-Onset Schizophrenia and at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia have impairments in social functioning and are readmitted to healthcare institutions frequently. Individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis already present poor social functioning; among those individuals, the conversion rate from the putative prodromal phase to overt psychosis is 20%–30% within 1–2 years. Here, we analyzed the factor structure of self-related variables and neuro- and socio-cognitive function, and investigated whether these factors were associated with psychosocial function and prognostic outcome in individuals with recent-onset schizophrenia (ROSPR) or at UHR for psychosis. Methods: We evaluated 60 individuals at UHR for psychosis, 47 individuals with ROSPR, and 71 healthy controls using a comprehensive neurocognitive test battery and self-reported attribution scales, self-esteem, resilience, aberrant subjective experiences of schizotypy (physical anhedonia, social anhedonia, magical ideation, and perceptual aberration), and basic symptoms. We assessed psychosocial function with the Quality of Life Scale (QLS). Results: Factor analysis of all subjects revealed a four-factor structure comprising social-cognitive bias, reflective self, neurocognition, and pre-reflective self factors. Multiple regression analysis at baseline revealed that the factor structure predicted QLS. In the UHR group, social-cognitive bias, reflective self, neurocognition, and negative symptoms were significant determinants, explaining 38.0% of total QLS score variance. In the ROSPR group, reflective self and negative symptoms were significant determinants, explaining 54.4% of total QLS score variance. During follow-up, 13 individuals at UHR for psychosis developed psychosis (cumulative prevalence: 31.2% ± 7.6% at 6 years), with neurocognition score at baseline remaining a significant predictor of conversion [χ2(1) = 4.009, p = 0.045; hazard ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.99, p = 0.048]. Five patients with schizophrenia were (re)admitted during follow-up (cumulative prevalence: 16.1% ± 7.1% at 6 years); no factor was found to predict (re)admission. Conclusion: Factor analysis revealed an intrinsic four-factor structure of social-cognitive bias, reflective self, neurocognition, and pre-reflective self. The four factors were associated with social functioning at baseline and prodrome-to-psychosis conversion during follow-up, indicating the clinical significance of the four-factor structure. These findings provide a framework for understanding schizophrenia.

Assessment tools for social cognition in epilepsy

Social cognition enables us to interact with other individuals and socio-cognitive functions are of importance throughout life. In people with focal and idiopathic epilepsies, previous research has shown that possible impairments in social cognition may cause interpersonal problems and have a negative impact on quality of life. For this reason, the assessment of socio-cognitive functions in individuals with epilepsy might help to identify individuals at risk and to define targets for intervention. Yet, previous tests were limited to static images and text-based material lacking ecological validity. Therefore, we have developed a novel test battery that aims at a comprehensive understanding of social cognition and uses highly ecologic tasks based on dynamic and multimodal stimulus material. Preliminary results that were obtained with the test battery are outlined in this overview.

Improvement of Emotional Empathy and Cluster B Personality Disorder Symptoms Associated With Decreased Cocaine Use Severity.

Aims: Chronic cocaine users display impaired social cognitive abilities, reduced prosocial behavior, and pronounced cluster B personality disorder (PD) symptoms all contributing to their social dysfunctions in daily life. These social dysfunctions have been proposed as a major factor for maintenance and relapse of stimulant use disorders in general. However, little is known about the reversibility of social cognitive deficits and socially problematic personality facets when stimulant use is reduced or ceased. Therefore, we examined the relation between changing intensity of cocaine use and the development of sociocognitive functioning and cluster B PD symptomatology over the course of 1 year. Methods: Social cognition, social decision-making, and cluster B PD symptoms were assessed in 38 cocaine users (19 with increased and 19 with decreased use) and 48 stimulant-naive healthy controls at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Cocaine use severity was objectively determined by quantitative 6-month hair analyses. The categorization of the two cocaine user groups was based on a combination of absolute (± 0.5 ng/mg) and relative (± 10%) changes in the cocaine hair concentration between baseline and the 1-year follow-up. Social cognition was assessed using the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET) and the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC). A combined Distribution/Dictator Game was applied for assessing social decision-making. Cluster B PD symptoms were measured by a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders (SCID-II) PD questionnaire according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). Results: Increased cocaine use was linked to worsened empathy, while decreased cocaine use went along with improved emotional empathy. Moreover, whereas decreased cocaine use was associated with reduced severity of self-reported cluster B PD symptoms, these symptoms remained largely stable in increasers. In contrast to a significant reduction of prosocial behavior at baseline in the combined cocaine user group, specifically decreasers were not statistically distinguishable from controls at the follow-up. Conclusions: Sociocognitive deficits and cluster B PD symptoms of chronic cocaine users are adaptable over time as they covary with the increase or decrease in cocaine use. Hence, abstinence orientation and training of social cognition and interaction might improve social functioning, and should therefore be important therapeutic elements in cocaine addiction treatment.

Pituitary Volume and Socio-Cognitive Functions in Individuals at Risk of Psychosis and Patients With Schizophrenia.

Objectives: Increased pituitary volume, which probably reflects hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hyperactivity, has been reported in patients with schizophrenia and individuals at risk of psychosis. On the basis of potential role of abnormal HPA axis function on cognitive impairments in psychosis, we aimed to examine possible relations between the pituitary volume and socio-cognitive impairments in these subjects.Methods: This magnetic resonance imaging study examined the pituitary gland volume in 38 subjects with at-risk mental state (ARMS) [of whom 4 (10.5%) exhibited the transition to schizophrenia], 63 patients with schizophrenia, and 61 healthy controls. Social and cognitive functions of the ARMS and schizophrenia groups were assessed using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS), and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS).Results: Both the ARMS and schizophrenia groups had a significantly larger pituitary volume compared to controls. In the schizophrenia group, the pituitary volume was negatively associated with the BACS working memory score. No association was found between the pituitary volume and clinical variables (medication, symptom severity) in either clinical group.Conclusion: Our findings support the notion of common HPA hyperactivity in the ARMS and schizophrenia groups, but abnormal HPA axis function may contribute differently to cognitive deficits according to the illness stages of schizophrenia.

Tablet Apps to Support First School Inclusion of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Mainstream Classrooms: A Pilot Study.

The inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in mainstream classrooms is dramatically impeded by their difficulties in socio-adaptive behaviors. This paper presents a package of mobile applications consisting of both assistive and cognitive rehabilitation applications to support first school inclusion of children with ASD. These applications have been tested in a 3-month intervention in mainstream schools and at home, involving 50 participants (30 children with ASD, half of which was equipped and 20 equipped children with intellectual deficiencies). Benefits on socio-adaptive behaviors and social response in school settings, and socio-cognitive functioning have been assessed. The main results showed that equipped children with ASD improved their socio-adaptive behaviors and their social-response in school settings. Both equipped groups increased their socio-cognitive functioning.

Cognitive and socio-cognitive functioning of chronic non-medical prescription opioid users.

Non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) has become a major public health issue in the USA and is also increasing in Europe. However, little is known about neuropsychological associations of NMPOU-specifically regarding social cognition, which is essential for social functioning and treatability of opioid dependence. Previous studies with heroin users and opioid-substituted patients reported deficits in various cognitive functions, but these results are likely confounded by comorbid physical and psychiatric diseases, overdose-associated hypoxia, and adulteration of street heroin. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate social and non-social cognition in a relatively pure NMPOU sample taking opioid analgesics or antitussives. We assessed 23 individuals with NMPOU objectively confirmed by hair analyses and 29 opioid-naïve, healthy controls, employing a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Significant impairments were found between NMPOU individuals and controls regarding the cognitive domains of attention (p < .01, Hedge's g = .85), declarative memory (p < .05, g = .66), and global cognitive empathy (p < .01, g = 0.99)-the latter included problems with emotion recognition from faces, voices, and complex scenes. Opioid hair concentrations transformed to morphine equivalents were negatively correlated with global cognitive empathy (r = - 0.52, p < .01), suggesting dose-dependent deficits. In contrast to stimulant users primarily displaying deficits in emotional empathy, opioid users showed relatively selective impairments in measures of cognitive empathy, with dose-dependent effects suggesting potential opioid-induced deficits and involvement of the opioid-system in processes of cognitive empathy. These results have important implications for future interventions of opioid dependence targeting social functioning and consequently enhancing therapy outcome and preventing relapse.

Disorganisation, thought disorder and socio-cognitive functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Poor social cognition is prevalent in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Some authors argue that these effects are symptom-specific and that socio-cognitive difficulties (e.g. theory of mind) are strongly associated with thought disorder and symptoms of disorganisation.AimsThe current review tests the strength of this association. We meta-analysed studies published between 1980 and 2016 that tested the association between social cognition and these symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Our search (PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Web of Science) identified 123 studies (N = 9107). Overall effect size as r = -0.313, indicating a moderate association between symptoms and social cognition. Subanalyses yielded a moderate association between symptoms and theory of mind (r = -0.349) and emotion recognition (r = -0.334), but smaller effect sizes for social perception (r = -0.188), emotion regulation (r = -0.169) and attributional biases (r = -0.143). The association is interpreted within models of communication that highlight the importance of mentalisation and processing of partner-specific cues in conversational alignment and grounding.Declaration of interestsNone.

Socio-cognitive functioning in stimulant polysubstance users

BackgroundUsing more than one psychotropic substance is accompanied by increased risks for psychiatric and physical disorders. Accordingly, deficits in basal cognitive functions have been consistently associated with polysubstance use (PSU), whereas little is known about potential impairments in more complex socio-cognitive skills, which are relevant for daily-life functioning. Therefore, we investigated the effects of toxicological validated stimulant PSU on social cognition under consideration of potential cumulative effects. MethodsWe compared socio-cognitive performances of 47 individuals with stimulant PSU with 59 matched stimulant-naïve controls using the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET) and the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC). Additionally, social network size was assessed by the Social Network Questionnaire (SNQ). Hair and urine testing was employed to categorize three PSU subgroups (3, 4, and ≥5 substances used) and to ensure drug abstinence in controls. ResultsIndividuals with stimulant PSU showed lower emotional empathy (MET) and a smaller social network (SNQ) compared to controls (both with linear trends for increasing number of used substances: p < .05). In contrast, cognitive empathy (MET and MASC) was largely unaffected by PSU. Additional linear regression analyses within PSU individuals revealed number of used substances as the best predictor for inferior performance in emotional empathy (p < .01), while severity of the use of single substances or substance-classes did not show a significant impact. ConclusionThese findings demonstrate cumulative adverse effects of stimulant PSU on an important facet of socio-cognitive functioning. Therefore, emotional empathy deficits should be targeted in future interventions and rehabilitations for individuals with PSU.

Autism-associated 16p11.2 microdeletion impairs prefrontal functional connectivity in mouse and human.

Human genetic studies are rapidly identifying variants that increase risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. However, it remains unclear how specific mutations impact brain function and contribute to neuropsychiatric risk. Chromosome 16p11.2 deletion is one of the most common copy number variations in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Using resting state functional MRI data from the Simons Variation in Individuals Project (VIP) database, we show that 16p11.2 deletion carriers exhibit impaired prefrontal connectivity, resulting in weaker long-range functional coupling with temporal-parietal regions. These functional changes are associated with socio-cognitive impairments. We also document that a mouse with the same genetic deficiency exhibits similarly diminished prefrontal connectivity, together with thalamo-prefrontal miswiring and reduced long-range functional synchronization. These results reveal a mechanistic link between specific genetic risk for neurodevelopmental disorders and long-range functional coupling, and suggest that deletion in 16p11.2 may lead to impaired socio-cognitive function via dysregulation of prefrontal connectivity.

Inhibition in the face of emotion: Characterization of the spatial-temporal dynamics that facilitate automatic emotion regulation.

Emotion regulation mediates socio-cognitive functions and is essential for interactions with others. The capacity to automatically inhibit responses to emotional stimuli is an important aspect of emotion regulation; the underlying neural mechanisms of this ability have been rarely investigated. Forty adults completed a Go/No-go task during magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings, where they responded rapidly to either a blue or purple frame which contained angry or happy faces. Subjects responded to the target color in an inhibition (75% Go trials) and a vigilance condition (25% Go trials). As expected, inhibition processes showed early, sustained activation (200-450ms) in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Emotion-related inhibition processes showed greater activity with angry faces bilaterally in the orbital-frontal gyri (OFG) starting at 225ms and temporal poles from 250ms, with right hemisphere dominance. The presence of happy faces elicited earlier activity in the right OFG. This study demonstrates that the timing of inhibition processes varies with the emotional context and that there is much greater activation in the presence of angry faces. It underscores the importance of the right IFG for inhibition processes, but the OFG in automatic emotion regulation.

P.2.028 - Neuropharmacological effects of chronic opioid analgesic use on social cognition

Background Based on an increased public health concern regarding the misuse of opioid analgesics especially in the United States (U.S.) but also in Europe, non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) has become an emerging field in addiction research [1]. Although misuse of opioid analgesics (e.g., morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, etc.) has reached epidemic dimensions in the U.S., little is known about its neuropsychological sequelae. Social cognition such as empathy and emotion perception is an essential component for prosocial and interpersonal behaviour and is crucial for a positive therapy outcome in substance users. Studies with heroin users and opioid-substituted patients have shown deficits in emotion perception [2,3]. However, in this population, it is difficult to attribute postulated findings only to neuropharmacological effects because of confounding factors such as comorbid physical and psychiatric diseases. Aims The purpose of the present project is to investigate social cognition in relatively pure non-medical prescription opioid users to generate an improved model of chronic opioid effects on socio-cognitive functions and to perform a better calculation of opioid dose-response effects with less confounded factors mentioned before. Methods We compared 23 individuals with NMPOU with 29 matched healthy and drug-naive controls. Participants conducted the Comprehensive Affect Test System, investigating emotion perception including two channels of communication: affect recognition in faces (ARQ) and prosodic recognition (PRQ). The Multifaceted Empathy Test was used, measuring cognitive (CE) and emotional empathy (EE). Trait empathy was assessed using the German version of the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI). Additionally, screening questionnaires and interviews were conducted. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 23.0 using independent t-tests to determine quantitative differences between groups. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to control for co-factors. Results Individuals with NMPOU showed reduced emotion perception in both channels of communication ARQ [t(50)=2.62, p=0.012] and PRQ [t(50)=3.34, p Conclusion This is the first study investigating social cognition in individuals with NMPOU. Contrary to cocaine and alcohol users displaying deficits mainly in EE, individuals with NMPOU show selective impairments in CE, indicating that the opioid system might be involved in CE processing. Similar deficits were also found in autistic patients supporting Panksepp’s neurochemical theory of autism [4]. Additionally, subjective self-ratings on cognitive and emotional trait empathy of the IRI demonstrated no differences between both groups, assuming that individuals with NMPOU are not aware of their deficits. Furthermore, the present study results indicate inferior social cognition especially in recognising and decoding emotions in faces but also in prosody. These deficits could lead to severe impairments in daily life interactions particularly in social relationships but also in physician-patient communications. Therefore, future interventions of opioid dependence should target deficits in social cognition to improve social interaction and consequently enhance therapy outcome and prevent relapse.

Association but not Recognition: an Alternative Model for Differential Imitation from 0 to 2 Months

Skepticism toward the existence of neonatal differential imitation is fostered by views that assign it an excessive significance, making it foundational for social cognition. Moreover, a misleading theoretical framework may generate unwarranted expectations about the kinds of findings experimentalists are supposed to look for. Hence we propose a theoretical analysis that may help experimentalists address the empirical question of whether early differential imitation really exists. We distinguish three models of early imitation. The first posits automatic visuo-motor links evolved for sociocognitive functions and we call it Genetically Programmed Direct Matching (GPDM). The second is Meltzoff and Moore’s Active Intermodal Matching (AIM), which postulates a comparison between the acts of self and other. The third is the alternative we propose and we call it “Association by Similarity Theory” (AST), as it relies on the tacit functioning of this domain-general process. AST describes early imitation merely as the differential induction or elicitation of behaviors that already tend to occur spontaneously. We focus on the contrast between AIM and AST, and argue that AST is preferable to AIM for two reasons. First, AST is more parsimonious and more plausible, especially because it does not require infants to be able to recognize self-other similarities. Second, whereas the extant findings tend to disqualify AIM, AST can account for them adequately. Furthermore, we suggest that AST has the potential to give new impulse to empirical research because it discriminates promising lines of inquiry from unproductive ones.