Annual Research Review: Towards a developmental neuroscience of atypical social cognition

TY - JOUR

T1 - Annual Research Review

T2 - Towards a developmental neuroscience of atypical social cognition

AU - Happe, Francesca

AU - Frith, Uta

PY - 2014/6

Y1 - 2014/6

N2 - As a starting point for our review we use a developmental timeline, starting from birth and divided into major developmental epochs defined by key milestones of social cognition in typical development. For each epoch, we highlight those developmental disorders that diverge from the normal developmental pattern, what is known about these key milestones in the major disorders affecting social cognition, and any available research on the neural basis of these differences. We relate behavioural observations to four major networks of the social brain, that is, Amygdala, Mentalizing, Emotion and Mirror networks. We focus on those developmental disorders that are characterized primarily by social atypicality, such as autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety and a variety of genetically defined syndromes. The processes and aspects of social cognition we highlight are sketched in a putative network diagram, and include: agent identification, emotion processing and empathy, mental state attribution, self-processing and social hierarchy mapping involving social policing' and in-group/out-group categorization. Developmental disorders reveal some dissociable deficits in different components of this map of social cognition. This broad review across disorders, ages and aspects of social cognition leads us to some key questions: How can we best distinguish primary from secondary social disorders? Is social cognition especially vulnerable to developmental disorder, or surprisingly robust? Are cascading notions of social development, in which early functions are essential stepping stones or building bricks for later abilities, necessarily correct?

AB - As a starting point for our review we use a developmental timeline, starting from birth and divided into major developmental epochs defined by key milestones of social cognition in typical development. For each epoch, we highlight those developmental disorders that diverge from the normal developmental pattern, what is known about these key milestones in the major disorders affecting social cognition, and any available research on the neural basis of these differences. We relate behavioural observations to four major networks of the social brain, that is, Amygdala, Mentalizing, Emotion and Mirror networks. We focus on those developmental disorders that are characterized primarily by social atypicality, such as autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety and a variety of genetically defined syndromes. The processes and aspects of social cognition we highlight are sketched in a putative network diagram, and include: agent identification, emotion processing and empathy, mental state attribution, self-processing and social hierarchy mapping involving social policing' and in-group/out-group categorization. Developmental disorders reveal some dissociable deficits in different components of this map of social cognition. This broad review across disorders, ages and aspects of social cognition leads us to some key questions: How can we best distinguish primary from secondary social disorders? Is social cognition especially vulnerable to developmental disorder, or surprisingly robust? Are cascading notions of social development, in which early functions are essential stepping stones or building bricks for later abilities, necessarily correct?

KW - Social cognition

KW - autism spectrum disorders

KW - theory of mind

KW - empathy

KW - brain development

KW - AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

KW - CALLOUS-UNEMOTIONAL TRAITS

KW - MIRROR-NEURON SYSTEM

KW - AGE-RELATED-CHANGES

KW - FRAGILE-X-SYNDROME

KW - BIOLOGICAL MOTION

KW - WILLIAMS-SYNDROME

KW - YOUNG-CHILDREN

KW - HUMAN BRAIN

KW - INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES

U2 - 10.1111/jcpp.12162

DO - 10.1111/jcpp.12162

M3 - Literature review

SN - 0021-9630

VL - 55

SP - 553

EP - 577

JO - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

JF - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

IS - 6

ER -