Featured Publications
Dissociation of vicarious and experienced rewards by coupling frequency within the same neural pathway
Putnam P, Chu C, Fagan N, Dal Monte O, Chang S. Dissociation of vicarious and experienced rewards by coupling frequency within the same neural pathway. Neuron 2023, 111: 2513-2522.e4. PMID: 37348507, PMCID: PMC10527039, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExperienced rewardsVicarious rewardBasolateral amygdalaAlpha/beta frequencyLocal field potentialsSame neural pathwaysSelect brain regionsSocial learningNeural systemsSocial interactionDirectional influenceRewardBrain regionsBeta frequenciesNeural pathwaysGamma frequenciesShared experienceDecision makingNeuronal interactionsSocial agencyField potentialsVoluntary choiceSocial choiceGyrusAmygdalaWidespread implementations of interactive social gaze neurons in the primate prefrontal-amygdala networks
Dal Monte O, Fan S, Fagan NA, Chu CJ, Zhou MB, Putnam PT, Nair AR, Chang SWC. Widespread implementations of interactive social gaze neurons in the primate prefrontal-amygdala networks. Neuron 2022, 110: 2183-2197.e7. PMID: 35545090, PMCID: PMC9262836, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.04.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrefrontal–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 speciesNeurobiologyAmygdalaBehaviorUnderpinningsPrimatesConstructsThe anterior cingulate cortex is necessary for forming prosocial preferences from vicarious reinforcement in monkeys
Basile BM, Schafroth JL, Karaskiewicz CL, Chang SWC, Murray EA. The anterior cingulate cortex is necessary for forming prosocial preferences from vicarious reinforcement in monkeys. PLOS Biology 2020, 18: e3000677. PMID: 32530910, PMCID: PMC7292358, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000677.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnterior cingulate cortexProsocial preferencesVicarious reinforcementCingulate cortexACC lesionsPrimate anterior cingulate cortexSocial preferencesDifferent visual cuesSocial cognitionReward outcomesReinforcement taskReward deliveryVisual cuesACC contributionSocial outcomesCuesSocial relationshipsExcitotoxic lesionsPeripheral targetsGood thingGreater tendencySelfCortexLesion groupSingle neuronsSpecialized 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 mechanismCortexBehaviorProcessingEvidenceIndividualsAbilityOxytocin under opioid antagonism leads to supralinear enhancement of social attention
Dal Monte O, Piva M, Anderson KM, Tringides M, Holmes AJ, Chang SWC. Oxytocin under opioid antagonism leads to supralinear enhancement of social attention. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 114: 5247-5252. PMID: 28461466, PMCID: PMC5441805, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1702725114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial attentionMutual eye contactSocial cognitionReward receiptParticular social importanceEfficacy of oxytocinEye contactSocial dysfunctionOpioid antagonismSocial contextGaze interactionHuman brainEntire sessionOxytocinΚ-opioid receptor geneFacial regionOT geneAttentionCognitionSocial importanceStrong effectMonkeysOpioid systemSessionsContext
2023
Beyond Cortex: The Evolution of the Human Brain
Chin R, Chang SWC, Holmes AJ. Beyond Cortex: The Evolution of the Human Brain. Psychological Review 2023, 130: 285-307. PMID: 35420848, DOI: 10.1037/rev0000361.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman brain evolutionBrain evolutionEvolutionary lineagesEvolutionary forcesEvolutionary pressureBody sizeHuman brain developmentHuman evolutionCurrent understandingBrain developmentDiverse setStudy of behaviorComprehensive viewBrain biologyLineagesEvolutionBiologyStriking increaseVast majorityCritical importanceAnimal modelsNonhuman primates
2022
Prefrontal circuits guiding social preference: Implications in autism spectrum disorder
Fortier AV, Meisner OC, Nair AR, Chang SWC. Prefrontal circuits guiding social preference: Implications in autism spectrum disorder. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2022, 141: 104803. PMID: 35908593, PMCID: PMC10122914, DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104803.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutism spectrum disorderUnderlying neural mechanismsSpectrum disorderTreatment developmentSocial preferencesSocial preference behaviorSocial cognitionUnderlying neural circuitsAtypical developmentNeural mechanismsPrefrontal circuitsCircuit-level dysfunctionBehavioral disruptionNeural circuitsBehavioral deficitsAnimal model researchAnimal modelsCommon circuitsDiagnostic prevalenceConvergent circuitClinical presentationNeurological alterationsTreatment optionsEffects of dysregulationCognitionInterplay 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 ResearchSocial neuroscience: Staying bonded over oxytocin and endocannabinoids
Nair AR, Chang SWC. Social neuroscience: Staying bonded over oxytocin and endocannabinoids. Current Biology 2022, 32: r228-r231. PMID: 35290773, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.009.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Increasing Central Serotonin with 5-hydroxytryptophan Disrupts the Inhibition of Social Gaze in Nonhuman Primates
Weinberg-Wolf HB, Fagan N, Dal Monte O, Chang SWC. Increasing Central Serotonin with 5-hydroxytryptophan Disrupts the Inhibition of Social Gaze in Nonhuman Primates. Journal Of Neuroscience 2021, 42: 670-681. PMID: 34862190, PMCID: PMC8805615, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0413-21.2021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocial gaze behaviorAbility of monkeysSocial gazeGaze behaviorMotivational stateControl imagesReaction timeCentral serotonin levelsNonhuman primatesSocial orientingGaze responsesSerotonergic interventionsModulatory relationshipCausal evidenceEye movementsTranslational insightsGazeDistinct aspectsDisruptive effectsBehavioral changesSerotonergic systemPupil constrictionCausal impactCentral serotoninFlexible orientationAutonomic Arousal Tracks Outcome Salience Not Valence in Monkeys Making Social Decisions
Basile BM, Joiner JA, Dal Monte O, Fagan NA, Karaskiewicz CL, Lucas DR, Chang SWC, Murray EA. Autonomic Arousal Tracks Outcome Salience Not Valence in Monkeys Making Social Decisions. Behavioral Neuroscience 2021, 135: 443-452. PMID: 34264694, PMCID: PMC8489567, DOI: 10.1037/bne0000424.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchToward 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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmygdalaAnimalsCognitionEmotionsFearHumansNeuronsNeurophysiologyPrimatesSocial BehaviorConceptsSocial 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 regionsAmygdalaStimuliNeurophysiologyProcessingDisentangling perceptual awareness from nonconscious processing in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)
Ben-Haim MS, Dal Monte O, Fagan NA, Dunham Y, Hassin RR, Chang SWC, Santos LR. Disentangling perceptual awareness from nonconscious processing in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2017543118. PMID: 33785543, PMCID: PMC8053918, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2017543118.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSocial 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
2019
Differences in how macaques monitor others: Does serotonin play a central role?
Weinberg‐Wolf H, Chang SWC. Differences in how macaques monitor others: Does serotonin play a central role? Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Cognitive Science 2019, 10: e1494. PMID: 30775852, PMCID: PMC6570566, DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1494.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDecision-making psychologyCognitive BiologySocial attentionSocial competenciesSocial informationSocial monitoringEvolutionary rootsPsychologySocial toleranceNeuroscienceAggressionDominance behaviorRole of serotoninField of primatologySerotonergic functionCognitionConspecificsPrimatesPrimatologyMacaquesCompetenciesDifferencesAttentionCentral roleResource opportunities
2018
The effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on attention and central serotonin neurochemistry in the rhesus macaque
Weinberg-Wolf H, Fagan NA, Anderson GM, Tringides M, Dal Monte O, Chang SWC. The effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on attention and central serotonin neurochemistry in the rhesus macaque. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018, 43: 1589-1598. PMID: 29463909, PMCID: PMC5983545, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-017-0003-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSerotonergic interventionsSalient facial featuresCentral serotonergic functioningCisternal cerebrospinal fluidBaseline attentionCognitive operationsSerotonin's roleIndividual differencesBi-directional effectsAutonomic arousalSaline sessionsImmediate serotonin precursorEngaged individualsBehavioral impairmentsFacial featuresSerotonergic functioningStimulus animalsRole of serotoninPupil sizeAnxietyPsychiatric disordersSerotonin neurochemistrySerotoninergic functionSerotonin effectsCSF concentrationsAn 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
2016
Live interaction distinctively shapes social gaze dynamics in rhesus macaques
Dal Monte O, Piva M, Morris JA, Chang SW. Live interaction distinctively shapes social gaze dynamics in rhesus macaques. Journal Of Neurophysiology 2016, 116: 1626-1643. PMID: 27486105, PMCID: PMC5144716, DOI: 10.1152/jn.00442.2016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMutual eye contactGaze dynamicsEye contactSocial cognitionProportion of fixationsInteractive social contextsPairs of monkeysFocal attentionSustained attentionLive interactionEye regionSeparable componentsFamiliar pairsMeaningful eventsSocial contextReal partnersDominant monkeysSame monkeysCognitionStatic imagesReal-time interactionAttentionMonkeys