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Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex impairs theory of mind learning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

S. Lev-Ran ,
S.G. Shamay-Tsoory ,
A. Zangen  and
Y. Levkovitz
S. Lev-Ran
Affiliation:
Cognitive and Emotional Laboratory, Shalvata Mental Health Care Center, POB 94, Hod-Hasharon, Israel
S.G. Shamay-Tsoory
Affiliation:
Cognitive and Emotional Laboratory, Shalvata Mental Health Care Center, POB 94, Hod-Hasharon, Israel
A. Zangen
Affiliation:
Cognitive and Emotional Laboratory, Shalvata Mental Health Care Center, POB 94, Hod-Hasharon, Israel
Y. Levkovitz*
Affiliation:
Cognitive and Emotional Laboratory, Shalvata Mental Health Care Center, POB 94, Hod-Hasharon, Israel
*
*Corresponding author. Psychiatry Department, Shalvata Mental Health Center, Tel Aviv University, Hamargoa 4, POB 94, Israel. Tel.: +972 9 7478 644; fax: +972 9 7478 643. E-mail addresses: ylevk@clalit.org.il, levkovit@netvision.net.il (Y. Levkovitz).
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Abstract

Imaging and lesion studies indicate that the prefrontal cortex plays a prominent role in mediating theory of mind (ToM) functioning. Particularly, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) appears to be involved in mediating ToM functioning. This study utilized slow repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the VMPFC in 13 healthy subjects in order to test whether normal functioning of the VMPFC is necessary for ToM functioning. We found that rTMS to the VMPFC, but not sham-rTMS, significantly disrupted ToM learning. Performance on a control task, not involving affective ToM functioning, was not significantly altered after applying rTMS to the VMPFC or sham-rTMS. In an additional experiment, rTMS to the vertex did not significantly affect ToM learning, confirming specificity of the VMPFC region. These findings indicate that the VMPFC is critical for intact ToM learning and shed further light on the concept and localization of ToM in particular and empathic functioning in general.

Keywords

Transcranial magnetic stimulationVentromedial prefrontal cortexTheory of mindLearningSocial cognitionEmpathy
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , May 2012 , pp. 285 - 289
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2012

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