(Open access funding provided by Semmelweis University)
The recent literature on theory of mind (ToM) aims to identify situations that necessitate
a greater reliance on ToM. The self-to-other model of empathy proposes that when there
is a discrepancy between affective and contextual information, the ToM system is activated
more strongly to assist in the classification of the emotional state. In order to
test this aspect of the theory, the study aimed to examine the neural response to
emotional stimuli in context. Non-congruent images depict natural scenarios where
there is a mismatch between the valence of facial expressions of one of the protagonists
and the overall context, when considered in isolation. In contrast, congruent images
are those in which there is no such discrepancy. The fMRI data of 53 healthy participants
(31 females; mean age, 25.23 ± 5.09) were analysed using a pre-defined ToM mask. The
results align with the prediction that non-congruent images will recruit the ToM system
to a greater degree. Additionally, we found activations in areas implicated in emotion
processing and control functions in response to non-congruent images relative to congruent
ones. The results indicate that the emotional processing of complex social situations
is supported by multiple processes. Consequently, identifying the sources of alterations
in emotion processing and social cognition is crucial for understanding individual
differences in neurotypical and clinical populations.
