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Social Behavior from Rodents to Humans pp 379–396Cite as

The Social Context Network Model in Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases

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Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 30))

Abstract

The role of contextual modulations has been extensively studied in basic sensory and cognitive processes. However, little is known about their impact on social cognition, let alone their disruption in disorders compromising such a domain. In this chapter, we flesh out the social context network model (SCNM), a neuroscientific proposal devised to address the issue. In SCNM terms, social context effects rely on a fronto-temporo-insular network in charge of (a) updating context cues to make predictions, (b) consolidating context–target associative learning, and (c) coordinating internal and external milieus. First, we characterize various social cognition domains as context-dependent phenomena. Then, we review behavioral and neural evidence of social context impairments in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), highlighting their relation with key SCNM hubs. Next, we show that other psychiatric and neurological conditions involve context-processing impairments following damage to the brain regions included in the model. Finally, we call for an ecological approach to social cognition assessment, moving beyond widespread abstract and decontextualized methods.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by grants from CONICET, CONICYT/FONDECYT Regular (1,130,920), FONCyT-PICT 2012-0412, 2012-1309, and the INECO Foundation FONDAP 15150012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Translational and Cognitive Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Pacheco de Melo 1860, 1126, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sandra Baez & Adolfo M. García

  2. National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sandra Baez, Adolfo M. García & Agustín Ibanez

  3. UDP-INECO Foundation Core on Neuroscience (UIFCoN), Diego Portales University, Santiago, Chile

    Sandra Baez & Adolfo M. García

  4. Faculty of Elementary and Special Education (FEEyE), National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), Mendoza, Argentina

    Adolfo M. García

  5. Institute of Translational and Cognitive Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Agustín Ibanez

  6. Universidad Autónoma Del Caribe, Barranquilla, Colombia

    Agustín Ibanez

  7. Laboratory of Neuroscience, Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, Chile

    Agustín Ibanez

  8. Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders, Sydney, Australia

    Agustín Ibanez

  9. Grupo de Investigación Cerebro Y Cognición Social, Bogotá, Colombia

    Sandra Baez

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  1. Sandra Baez
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  2. Adolfo M. García
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  3. Agustín Ibanez
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sandra Baez or Agustín Ibanez .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Neuroscience, Experim. and Physiological Psychology Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Markus Wöhr

  2. Dep of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Sören Krach

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Baez, S., García, A.M., Ibanez, A. (2016). The Social Context Network Model in Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases. In: Wöhr, M., Krach, S. (eds) Social Behavior from Rodents to Humans. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 30. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_443

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