INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHY
Functional neuroimaging studies have noted that brain regions supporting theory of mind (ToM) overlap remarkably with those underlying episodic memory, suggesting a link between the two processes. The present study shows that memory for others’ past experiences modulates significantly our appraisal...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00004/full |
| _version_ | 1828231687920680960 |
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| author | Elisa eCiaramelli Francesco eBernardi Morris eMoscovitch Morris eMoscovitch |
| author_facet | Elisa eCiaramelli Francesco eBernardi Morris eMoscovitch Morris eMoscovitch |
| author_sort | Elisa eCiaramelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Functional neuroimaging studies have noted that brain regions supporting theory of mind (ToM) overlap remarkably with those underlying episodic memory, suggesting a link between the two processes. The present study shows that memory for others’ past experiences modulates significantly our appraisal of, and reaction to, what is happening to them currently. Participants read the life story of two characters; one had experienced a long series of love-related failures, the other a long series of work-related failures. In a later faux pas recognition task, participants reported more empathy for the character unlucky in love in love-related faux pas scenarios, and for the character unlucky at work in work-related faux pas scenarios. The memory-based modulation of empathy correlated with the number of details remembered from the characters’ life story. These results suggest that individuals use memory for other people’s past experiences to simulate how they feel in similar situations they are currently facing. The integration of ToM and memory processes allows adjusting mental state inferences to fit unique social targets, constructing an individualized ToM (iToM). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:08:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b0bb8fff19a42a8aeeaeea797018842 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:08:52Z |
| publishDate | 2013-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b0bb8fff19a42a8aeeaeea7970188422022-12-22T03:19:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782013-02-01410.3389/fpsyg.2013.0000439110INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHYElisa eCiaramelli0Francesco eBernardi1Morris eMoscovitch2Morris eMoscovitch3Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di BolognaDepartment of Psychology, University of TorontoDepartment of Psychology, University of TorontoRotman Research InstituteFunctional neuroimaging studies have noted that brain regions supporting theory of mind (ToM) overlap remarkably with those underlying episodic memory, suggesting a link between the two processes. The present study shows that memory for others’ past experiences modulates significantly our appraisal of, and reaction to, what is happening to them currently. Participants read the life story of two characters; one had experienced a long series of love-related failures, the other a long series of work-related failures. In a later faux pas recognition task, participants reported more empathy for the character unlucky in love in love-related faux pas scenarios, and for the character unlucky at work in work-related faux pas scenarios. The memory-based modulation of empathy correlated with the number of details remembered from the characters’ life story. These results suggest that individuals use memory for other people’s past experiences to simulate how they feel in similar situations they are currently facing. The integration of ToM and memory processes allows adjusting mental state inferences to fit unique social targets, constructing an individualized ToM (iToM).http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00004/fullEmpathyTheory of Mindepisodic memoryautobiographical memoryepisodic simulation |
| spellingShingle | Elisa eCiaramelli Francesco eBernardi Morris eMoscovitch Morris eMoscovitch INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHY Frontiers in Psychology Empathy Theory of Mind episodic memory autobiographical memory episodic simulation |
| title | INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHY |
| title_full | INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHY |
| title_fullStr | INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHY |
| title_full_unstemmed | INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHY |
| title_short | INDIVIDUALIZED THEORY OF MIND (iToM): WHEN MEMORY MODULATES EMPATHY |
| title_sort | individualized theory of mind itom when memory modulates empathy |
| topic | Empathy Theory of Mind episodic memory autobiographical memory episodic simulation |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00004/full |
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