Research Projects 2012
Title of Project
Emotion Recognition in the Systemising and Empathising Brain
Major CHIRI theme(s)
Mental Health; Population Health; Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Chronic
Conditions
Program theme
Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health
Start date
Chief Supervisor
Other Supervisors
As soon as possible
Jonathan Foster
Torbjorn Falkmer (Occupational Therapy), Tele Tan (Computer Science)
Project outline
(For example
background, aim,
methodology etc)
Processing of emotional information is a key element of social cognition and
represents a major influence in many neurologically compromised clinical groups
on individuals’ functional capacity and daily activities (extending from the home
into the workplace). The brain basis of social cognition is an area of burgeoning
interest, with central relevance for a range of clinical groups suffering from
chronic illnesses, including (but not limited to): Autism, Asperger’s, Huntington’s
disease and psychosocial disorders such as Psychopathy and Schizophrenia.
Moreover, social cognitive capacity (often labelled ‘EQ’ in the media) is a key
factor influencing functional capacity within the “normal” population. The central
goal of this project will be to examine the bran basis of emotion recognition in
clinical groups and in people within the general population who show variation
on relevant key dimensions. We are especially interested to determine the extent
to which components of the ‘social brain’ are differentially active across clinical
groups. The findings will have important implications not only in terms of our
fundamental scientific knowledge, but also in terms of therapeutic approaches
(e.g. active gaze direction) which are being applied to enhance social cognition in
compromised individuals.
Typically we recognise emotions in others by reading their facial expressions, the
most recognisable of these being anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and
surprise. Research indicates that observers covertly mimic the expressions of
those they observe, and that this may assist in enhancing our empathy of the
person’s emotional state (Sonnby-Borgstrom, 2002). Furthermore blocking the
mimicry reactions of observers tends to result in impaired emotion recognition
(Niedenthal et al., 2001). This will be the key methodology which we will employ
in this project, building on the expertise in EEG analysis, evaluation of eye
moments and cognitive testing that is present among the supervisors (Foster,
Falkmer, Tan). A central approach will be to characterize - as key dependent
variables - the Systemising and Empathising quotients (SQ and EQ; Wheelwright
et al., 2006) in study participants. These quotients were designed in order to
evaluate the degree to which individuals display systemising and/or empathising
tendencies in their personalities. We will investigate these capacities in controls
manifesting differential levels of ‘Systemizing’ and ‘Empathizing’ capacity, in
addition to clinical groups to which the supervisors have access through their
academic and clinical linkages (Autism, Asperger’s, Huntington’s disease and
psychosocial disorders including Psychopathy and Schizophrenia).
Keywords
Emotion, Autism, Asperger’s, Huntington’s Disease, Psychopathy, Social
Cognition
This project is
suitable for
Essential
Qualifications
Honours
Essential skills
As per the above
Funding
Some research funds may be available via the Supervisors
Contact for further
information
AProf Jonathan Foster
email: j.foster@curtin.edu.au
mobile: 0404 074470
x
Masters
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Bachelors’ Degree in Psychology or a cognate discipline
PhD
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