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Poster B130 in Poster Session B - Thursday, August 8, 2024, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, Johnson Ice Rink
Neural Basis of Working Memory for Social Interactions
Yang Guo1 (), Zaifeng Gao2; 1Zhejiang Lab, 2Zhejiang University
Understanding the social interactions of others is vital for an individual's social adaptation. While the neural basis of observing social interactions has been extensively studied, the memory mechanisms involved remain less understood. This study aims to explore the neural mechanisms of working memory for social interactions employing fMRI experiments. We analyzed neural activity during both the encoding and maintenance periods, comparing responses to interactive versus non-interactive actions. Our findings revealed that during the encoding period, social interactions activate the broad person perception network, mirror network, and mentalizing network, consistent with prior studies on perception. In the maintenance period, activation was predominantly observed in less specific brain regions such as the superior temporal gyrus, supplementary motor area, and basal ganglia. Significantly, the putamen, a part of the basal ganglia, seems to play a crucial role in maintaining social interactions within working memory.
Keywords: social interaction working memory fMRI