Projects
The relationship between social motivation and social cognition in siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders Ghent University
Different etiological models try to explain the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this research project we aim to understand the role of social motivation deficits in the etiology of ASD and clarify its interrelations with (impaired) social cognition. We will create paradigms suited for research in very young children (5 months to 3 years) at risk for ASD.
Mindwandering and social cognition in depression: The mind’s social default mode and its role in mental well-being Ghent University
Although modern life is considered busy, research shows that we spend a noticeable amount of time in fantasies, rather than being focused on what we are doing. For instance, it is a common experience that, while reading a book, we suddenly realize that we are unable to remember the last page, because we have been fantasizing about possible future events that could happen to us.
It seems indeed that, when our mind drifts away, we tend to ...
Cultural differences in breakdown of social cognition in neuropsychiatric disorders: Chinese vs Flemish consistencies and specificities KU Leuven
Social Cognition and the emergence of institutions KU Leuven
John Searle has famously developed a theory of institutions, of which money, property and marriage are prime examples. The order of explanation in his theory is that a codified institution helps generating particular institutional facts which are usually marked out by status markers: public signs (‘status markers’) indicate that this is my property, or that this counts as money, or that they are married. The problem is ...
The neural basis of social cognition in health and neuropsychological disorders KU Leuven
Facial expressions are important for nonverbal communication and can display personal emotions and indicate an individual’s intention within a social situation. The expression of emotion is known to enhance retention of facial identity. Relative little is known about the underlying neuropsychology and the link between emotional and social memory, an interaction known to be of pivotal importance for an individual’s social interactions. The ...
SOCIAL COGNITION AND ASSOCIATED DEFICITS: IN VIVO AND IN SILICO KU Leuven
We will investigate social cognition in the human brain. More specifically, we will use functional neuroimaging (fMRI) to image these essential social cognitive networks, in healthy controls and patients with deficits in social cognition (frontotemporal dementia or autismspectrum disorder). During MRI scanning, inclusions will perform a related social cognitive task. After analyses of MRI data, we will construct artificial neural networks, ...
Computational Modeling of Social Cognition and associated Deficits by means of Artificial Neural Networks KU Leuven
Reversible inactivation of the mirror neuron system in non-human primates using pharmacogenetics: in search for a causal role of mirror neurons in social cognition. KU Leuven
Few discoveries in cognitive neurosciences over the last decades have had such an impact on the field as the discovery of mirror neurons. Initially discovered in a single premotor region in the monkey brain, research in the past 25 years have uncovered the existence of mirror neurons in numerous brain regions in different species (songbirds, monkeys and humans). While few people still doubt the existence of these neurons in the brain, the ...
Cultural Differences in Breakdown of Social Cognition in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Western vs Chinese Consistencies and Specificities KU Leuven
Social cognition refers to cognitive processes during social interaction in which people understand others and respond to their emotional expressions. These processes are susceptible to cultural differences. These cultural differences are typically more pronounced in psychiatric and neurological conditions that are associated with symptoms in social interaction. This project aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of social cognitive ...