6533b825fe1ef96bd1282046
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Brain and behavioral alterations in subjects with social anxiety dominated by empathic embarrassment
Junya FujinoRiitta HariJukka-pekka KauppiKathryn F. JankowskiRicardo Pio MontiJussi TohkaNobuhito AbeToshiya MuraiShisei TeiHidehiko TakahashiHidehiko Takahashisubject
Malesosiaalisten tilanteiden pelkoBrain activity and meditationmedia_common.quotation_subjectEmotionsSOCIAL ANXIETYintersubject correlationTemporoparietal junctionEMPATHYInferior frontal gyrusEmbarrassmentEmpathy050105 experimental psychologyINTERSUBJECT CORRELATIONYoung Adult03 medical and health sciencesCognitiontoiminnallinen magneettikuvaus0302 clinical medicineempatiamedicineHumans0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesFUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGINGembarrassmentempathymedia_commonBrain MappingMultidisciplinary05 social sciencesSocial anxietyCognitive flexibilityBrainPhobia SocialBiological SciencesMagnetic Resonance Imagingfunctional magnetic resonance imagingembarrasmentmedicine.anatomical_structurePosterior cingulateFemalesocial anxietyPsychologyEMBARRASSMENT030217 neurology & neurosurgeryNeuroscienceClinical psychologydescription
Significance People are increasingly affected by social anxiety that includes emotional hypersensitivity and inaccurate interpretation of social encounters, and varies markedly in its subjective manifestations. We searched for insights into the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms of Taijin-kyofusho (TKS), a specific subtype of social-anxiety disorder common in East Asia and dominated by empathic or other-oriented embarrassment. We found TKS to be characterized by enhanced affective and reduced cognitive empathy. Moreover, analysis of functional MRI data—collected while subjects viewed videos of badly singing people—revealed disruption of the cognitive–empathy network, possibly obstructing flexible inference of others’ perspective or augmenting maladaptive feelings of embarrassment. Our findings shed light on how altered affective and cognitive processing can contribute to the development of imaginary fears.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-25 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |