Featured Publications
Lesions to the mediodorsal thalamus, but not orbitofrontal cortex, enhance volatility beliefs linked to paranoia
Suthaharan P, Thompson S, Rossi-Goldthorpe R, Rudebeck P, Walton M, Chakraborty S, Noonan M, Costa V, Murray E, Mathys C, Groman S, Mitchell A, Taylor J, Corlett P, Chang S. Lesions to the mediodorsal thalamus, but not orbitofrontal cortex, enhance volatility beliefs linked to paranoia. Cell Reports 2024, 43: 114355. PMID: 38870010, PMCID: PMC11231991, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114355.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOrbitofrontal cortexMediodorsal thalamusReward learning rateAssociated with paranoiaExcitotoxic lesionsBrain regionsUnoperated monkeysAction selectionAdaptive behaviorParanoiaBelief updatingMDmcMeaningful changeCortexThalamusBeliefsLearning rateRobust to variabilityCompare performanceRewardBehaviorBrainMonkeysAction policiesPerceptionThe Evolving Landscape of Social Neuroscience and its Implications for Psychiatry
Li S, Kietzman H, Taylor J, Chang S. The Evolving Landscape of Social Neuroscience and its Implications for Psychiatry. Biological Psychiatry 2024 PMID: 38878810, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchClosed-loop microstimulations of the orbitofrontal cortex during real-life gaze interaction enhance dynamic social attention
Fan S, Dal Monte O, Nair A, Fagan N, Chang S. Closed-loop microstimulations of the orbitofrontal cortex during real-life gaze interaction enhance dynamic social attention. Neuron 2024, 112: 2631-2644.e6. PMID: 38823391, PMCID: PMC11309918, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.05.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrimate prefrontal cortexPrefrontal cortexSocial attentionOrbitofrontal cortexDorsomedial prefrontal cortexAnterior cingulate cortexCingulate cortexDirect gazeGaze interactionCortexGaze dynamicsControl different aspectsDistance of fixationDifferent aspectsGaze eventsPartner eyeGazeMultiple regionsMicrostimulationGaze positionAttentionSpatial dimensionsLatencyNeuronsDissociation 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 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 questionsBrainResearchMonkeysFrameworkHumansThe 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 dorsomedial prefrontal cortex computes task-invariant relative subjective value for self and other
Piva M, Velnoskey K, Jia R, Nair A, Levy I, Chang SW. The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex computes task-invariant relative subjective value for self and other. ELife 2019, 8: e44939. PMID: 31192786, PMCID: PMC6565363, DOI: 10.7554/elife.44939.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRelative subjective valueSubjective valuePrefrontal cortexMulti-voxel pattern analysisVentromedial prefrontal cortexDorsomedial prefrontal cortexNeural correlatesPrefrontal nodesFMRI approachRisky choiceSubjective valuationDmPFCNeural computationSocial attitudesUbiquitous behaviorSelfTaskPattern analysisCortexIndependent tasksBehavioral modelingParticipantsCorrelatesAttitudesDissimilar preferencesThe 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
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 arrayBeyond 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 ResearchOxytocin does not stand alone
Putnam PT, Chang SWC. Oxytocin does not stand alone. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences 2022, 377: 20210047. PMID: 35858106, PMCID: PMC9272150, DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0047.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 ResearchChapter 22 Amygdala connectivity and implications for social cognition and disorders
Meisner OC, Nair A, Chang SWC. Chapter 22 Amygdala connectivity and implications for social cognition and disorders. Handbook Of Clinical Neurology 2022, 187: 381-403. PMID: 35964984, PMCID: PMC9436700, DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823493-8.00017-1.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 orientation