Featured Publications
Prefrontal–amygdala circuits in social decision-making
Gangopadhyay P, Chawla M, Dal Monte O, Chang SWC. Prefrontal–amygdala circuits in social decision-making. Nature Neuroscience 2020, 24: 5-18. PMID: 33169032, PMCID: PMC7899743, DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-00738-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial behaviorSystems neuroscience perspectivePrefrontal-amygdala pathwaysPrefrontal-amygdala circuitsPrefrontal cortical regionsSocial cognitionNeuroscience perspectiveNeural basisNeuropeptide oxytocinBrains of primatesNeural mechanismsCortical regionsNon-human primatesSpecific instantiationSocial constructMultiple levelsCognitionNeuronal activityMultiple animal speciesNeurobiologyAmygdalaBehaviorUnderpinningsPrimatesConstructsIs There a ‘Social’ Brain? Implementations and Algorithms
Lockwood PL, Apps MAJ, Chang SWC. Is There a ‘Social’ Brain? Implementations and Algorithms. Trends In Cognitive Sciences 2020, 24: 802-813. PMID: 32736965, PMCID: PMC7501252, DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.06.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial behaviorNeural processesMotor facultiesInformation processingInfluential frameworkSocial specificitiesAlgorithmic levelGreater integrationPsychologyNeuroscienceBehaviorDifferent levelsImportant new insightsEmpirical approachMarrProcessingFundamental questionsBrainResearchMonkeysFrameworkHumansSpecialized medial prefrontal–amygdala coordination in other-regarding decision preference
Dal Monte O, Chu CCJ, Fagan NA, Chang SWC. Specialized medial prefrontal–amygdala coordination in other-regarding decision preference. Nature Neuroscience 2020, 23: 565-574. PMID: 32094970, PMCID: PMC7131896, DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0593-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMultiple cognitive operationsRostral anterior cingulate gyrusMedial prefrontal cortexSubcortical brain regionsAnterior cingulate gyrusCognitive operationsGamma frequency bandSocial decisionsSpecialized coordinationPrefrontal cortexNegative ORPSocial behaviorNeural populationsCingulate gyrusBrain regionsBasolateral amygdalaNetwork interactDecision preferencesSpecific directionalityNeuronal interactionsRewardGyrusAmygdalaPreferencesCortexThe Anterior Cingulate Gyrus and Social Cognition: Tracking the Motivation of Others
Apps MA, Rushworth MF, Chang SW. The Anterior Cingulate Gyrus and Social Cognition: Tracking the Motivation of Others. Neuron 2016, 90: 692-707. PMID: 27196973, PMCID: PMC4885021, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.04.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnterior cingulate cortexSocial cognitionSocio-cognitive abilitiesAnterior cingulate gyrusCognitive processesError processingSocial informationCingulate cortexSocial interactionSocial behaviorCingulate gyrusCognitionTestable predictionsGyrusMotivationACCGFurther evidenceComputational propertiesKey mechanismCortexBehaviorProcessingEvidenceIndividualsAbility
2023
The orbitofrontal cortex: A goal-directed cognitive map framework for social and non-social behaviors
Shi W, Meisner O, Blackmore S, Jadi M, Nandy A, Chang S. The orbitofrontal cortex: A goal-directed cognitive map framework for social and non-social behaviors. Neurobiology Of Learning And Memory 2023, 203: 107793. PMID: 37353191, PMCID: PMC10527225, DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107793.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOrbitofrontal cortexOFC functionCognitive mapsOFC neuronsNon-social domainCore brain areasNon-social behaviorsReward-based behaviorsValues-based behaviorSocial behaviorSocial contextBrain areasBehavioral contextSocial functionComplex representationSingle subjectCortexBehaviorTremendous knowledgeIntegrated viewContextTask spaceMAP frameworkRepresentationWide array
2022
Interplay between the oxytocin and opioid systems in regulating social behaviour
Putnam PT, Chang SWC. Interplay between the oxytocin and opioid systems in regulating social behaviour. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences 2022, 377: 20210050. PMID: 35858101, PMCID: PMC9272147, DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0050.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Levels of naturalism in social neuroscience research
Fan S, Dal Monte O, Chang SWC. Levels of naturalism in social neuroscience research. IScience 2021, 24: 102702. PMID: 34258547, PMCID: PMC8253962, DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102702.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSocial stimuliReal-life social interactionsSocial behaviorSocial neuroscience researchTypical social behaviorsNeural substratesEcological validityNeural responsesNeuroscience researchSocial interactionVirtual avatarCertain stimuliStimuliExperimental controlEmpirical researchSpecific processesReal-life scenariosHigh levelsResearchAvatarContingenciesSampling techniqueBehaviorNaturalismResearchersToward a holistic view of value and social processing in the amygdala: Insights from primate behavioral neurophysiology
Putnam PT, Chang SWC. Toward a holistic view of value and social processing in the amygdala: Insights from primate behavioral neurophysiology. Behavioural Brain Research 2021, 411: 113356. PMID: 33989727, PMCID: PMC8238892, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113356.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial behaviorSocial stimuliValue-related processesNegative emotional processesAspects of cognitionReward-related processesDistinct brain regionsSocial processingEmotional processesAmygdala's roleNeural basisPositive affectHolistic hypothesisPrimate neurophysiologyNeurophysiological mechanismsBehavioral neurophysiologySocial interactionValue processingModern neuroscienceTemporal lobeBrain regionsAmygdalaStimuliNeurophysiologyProcessingSocial processing by the primate medial frontal cortex
Putnam PT, Chang SWC. Social processing by the primate medial frontal cortex. International Review Of Neurobiology 2021, 158: 213-248. PMID: 33785146, PMCID: PMC8232543, DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.12.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimate medial frontal cortexMedial frontal cortexFrontal cortexSocial interactionSocial behaviorSocial information processingAdaptive social interactionsNon-social behaviorsComplex social behaviorsSocial processingInformation processing systemsNeurophysiology literatureVicarious learningSocial partnersInformation processingSocial monitoringNeuronal substratesBrain regionsUnique contributionNeurophysiology experimentsSocial functionCortexNeural algorithmDecision-making processNonhuman primates
2018
An integrated framework for the role of oxytocin in multistage social decision‐making
Piva M, Chang SWC. An integrated framework for the role of oxytocin in multistage social decision‐making. American Journal Of Primatology 2018, 80: e22735. PMID: 29350419, PMCID: PMC6053333, DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22735.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEffects of oxytocinSocial behaviorWithdrawal hypothesisSocial salience hypothesisCertain social situationsRole of oxytocinInfluence of oxytocinNeural evidenceProsocial actionsSocial stimuliProsocial choicesApproach behaviorSalience hypothesisSocial salienceSocial decisionsAntisocial behaviorSocial situationsOxytocin administrationWithdrawal behaviorSensory inputBehavioral outputSensory perceptionOverarching theoryDisparate theoriesProminent hypothesis
2012
Inhaled oxytocin amplifies both vicarious reinforcement and self reinforcement in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Chang SW, Barter JW, Ebitz RB, Watson KK, Platt ML. Inhaled oxytocin amplifies both vicarious reinforcement and self reinforcement in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2012, 109: 959-964. PMID: 22215593, PMCID: PMC3271866, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1114621109.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDelivery of rewardTypical social behaviorsProsocial choicesDecision latenciesObservational learningSpecies-typical social behaviorsNeural mechanismsSelfish choicesVicarious reinforcementSocial behaviorDistinct contextsDonation behaviorHuman behaviorNeural modelRewardSocial awarenessSelf-ReinforcementOxytocinPrairie volesSelfMonogamous onesRhesus macaquesOwn experienceEmpathyAttention