Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin Labeling

Background/Objectives: The cyberball paradigm has been used in numerous neuroimaging studies to elicit activation in neural substrates of social exclusion, which have been interpreted in terms of activity associated with “social pain”. The objectives of the study were to assess not only the replicab...

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Main Authors: Karin Labek, Roberto Viviani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1158
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author Karin Labek
Roberto Viviani
author_facet Karin Labek
Roberto Viviani
author_sort Karin Labek
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: The cyberball paradigm has been used in numerous neuroimaging studies to elicit activation in neural substrates of social exclusion, which have been interpreted in terms of activity associated with “social pain”. The objectives of the study were to assess not only the replicability but also the specificity of the areas activated by this paradigm. Methods: Functional imaging with arterial spin labeling, an approach to image longer mental states. Results: We replicated findings of previous meta-analyses of this paradigm in the inferior frontal gyrus and ventral cingular cortex. However, these areas were also active in a watch condition (in which participants were not excluded), although less so. Conclusions: These findings relativize a simple and specific interpretation of these areas as the neural substrates of social exclusion and social pain, as in previous studies. In a broader experimental context, similar activations have been reported by neuroimaging studies when semantic disambiguation and evaluation of action goals are required, an interpretation that may also apply to the effects elicited by this paradigm.
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spelling doaj-art-17f0e5451bec4f1f90cdb540acc250c12024-11-26T17:55:14ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-11-011411115810.3390/brainsci14111158Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin LabelingKarin Labek0Roberto Viviani1Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaInstitute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaBackground/Objectives: The cyberball paradigm has been used in numerous neuroimaging studies to elicit activation in neural substrates of social exclusion, which have been interpreted in terms of activity associated with “social pain”. The objectives of the study were to assess not only the replicability but also the specificity of the areas activated by this paradigm. Methods: Functional imaging with arterial spin labeling, an approach to image longer mental states. Results: We replicated findings of previous meta-analyses of this paradigm in the inferior frontal gyrus and ventral cingular cortex. However, these areas were also active in a watch condition (in which participants were not excluded), although less so. Conclusions: These findings relativize a simple and specific interpretation of these areas as the neural substrates of social exclusion and social pain, as in previous studies. In a broader experimental context, similar activations have been reported by neuroimaging studies when semantic disambiguation and evaluation of action goals are required, an interpretation that may also apply to the effects elicited by this paradigm.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1158social exclusionsocial painfunctional imaging
spellingShingle Karin Labek
Roberto Viviani
Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin Labeling
Brain Sciences
social exclusion
social pain
functional imaging
title Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin Labeling
title_full Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin Labeling
title_fullStr Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin Labeling
title_full_unstemmed Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin Labeling
title_short Reassessing the Neural Correlates of Social Exclusion: A Replication Study of the Cyberball Paradigm Using Arterial Spin Labeling
title_sort reassessing the neural correlates of social exclusion a replication study of the cyberball paradigm using arterial spin labeling
topic social exclusion
social pain
functional imaging
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/11/1158
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