Koen Hogenelst

The Influence of Affective Empathy and Autism Spectrum Traits on Empathic Accuracy

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by interpersonal deficits and has been associated with limited cognitive empathy, which includes perspective taking, theory of mind, and empathic accuracy (EA). The capacity for affective empathy may also be impaired. In the present study we aimed to determine if EA in normally developing individuals with varying levels of autism spectrum traits is moderated by trait affective empathy. Fifty male and fifty female participants (‘perceivers’) completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient and the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale to assess autism spectrum traits and trait affective empathy, respectively. EA was assessed using a Dutch-language version of a previously developed task and involved rating the feelings of others (‘targets’) verbally recounting autobiographical emotional events. Targets varied in trait emotional expressivity, assessed using the Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire. Perceivers with more autism spectrum traits performed worse on the EA task, particularly when their trait affective empathy was relatively low. Interpersonal deficits in autism spectrum disorder may be partially explained by low cognitive empathy. Further, they might be aggravated by a limited capacity for affective empathy.

Studying the neurobiology of human social interaction: Making the case for ecological validity

With this commentary we make the case for an increased focus on the ecological validity of the measures used to assess aspects of human social functioning. Impairments in social functioning are seen in many types of psychopathology, negatively affecting the lives of psychiatric patients and those around them. Yet the neurobiology underlying abnormal social interaction remains unclear. As an example of human social neuroscience research with relevance to biological psychiatry and clinical psychopharmacology, this commentary discusses published experimental studies involving manipulation of the human brain serotonin system that included assessments of social behavior. To date, these studies have mostly been laboratory-based and included computer tasks, observations by others, or single-administration self-report measures. Most laboratory measures used so far inform about the role of serotonin in aspects of social interaction, but the relevance for real-life interaction is often unclear. Few studies have used naturalistic assessments in real life. We suggest several laboratory methods with high ecological validity as well as ecological momentary assessment, which involves intensive repeated measures in naturalistic settings. In sum, this commentary intends to stimulate experimental research on the neurobiology of human social interaction as it occurs in real life.

Communal and agentic behaviour in response to facial emotion expressions

Facial emotions are important for human communication. Unfortunately, traditional facial emotion recognition tasks do not inform about how respondents might behave towards others expressing certain emotions. Approach-avoidance tasks do measure behaviour, but only on one dimension. In this study 81 participants completed a novel Facial Emotion Response Task. Images displaying individuals with emotional expressions were presented in random order. Participants simultaneously indicated how communal (quarrelsome vs. agreeable) and how agentic (dominant vs. submissive) they would be in response to each expression. We found that participants responded differently to happy, angry, fearful, and sad expressions in terms of both dimensions of behaviour. Higher levels of negative affect were associated with less agreeable responses specifically towards happy and sad expressions. The Facial Emotion Response Task might complement existing facial emotion recognition and approach-avoidance tasks.

The Effects of Tryptophan on Everyday Interpersonal Encounters and Social Cognitions in Individuals with a Family History of Depression

Background: Individuals with a family history of depression show subtle abnormalities in the processing of social stimuli. This could negatively affect their interpersonal functioning and contribute to their depression risk. Repeated administration of the serotonin precursor tryptophan has previously been shown to increase agreeable behavior and reduce quarrelsome behavior in irritable people, who are also considered at risk for depression. Methods: To examine the effects of tryptophan on social functioning in individuals with a family history of depression, 40 men and women with at least one first-degree relative with depression received tryptophan (1g three times a day) and placebo for 14 days each in a double-blind crossover design and recorded their social behavior and mood during everyday interpersonal encounters. Participants also provided daily ratings of their positive and negative cognitions concerning their social functioning. Results: Tryptophan improved mood. Unexpectedly, tryptophan increased quarrelsome behavior and reduced agreeable behavior, specifically during interactions at home. The behavioral effects of tryptophan were not moderated by mood or by the interaction partner. Negative social cognitions were lower when tryptophan was given second and lower during placebo when placebo was given second. Conclusion: Overall, tryptophan may not alter social behavior in individuals with a family history of depression as it does in irritable people. However, the behavioral effects of tryptophan at home might be seen as a way for individuals with a family history of depression to achieve more control. Over time, this may positively influence the way they feel and think about themselves in a social context.

Comparability of the Social Behavior Inventory in English and Dutch

The Social Behavior Inventory (SBI) assesses social behaviors along the 2 orthogonal axes defining the interpersonal circumplex; that is, in terms of quarrelsomeness–agreeableness and dominance–submissiveness. To contribute to evidence evaluating the cross-cultural construct validity of the SBI, we investigated whether there are differences in how English-speaking students living in Canada and Dutch-speaking students living in The Netherlands view the SBI items. Results suggested there is similarity in the meaning of the items in the 2 cultures. The location of the original English SBI items on the 2 axes of the interpersonal circumplex was generally as expected. Similar results were found for a Dutch translation of the SBI. Differences occurred primarily along the dominance–submissiveness axis and could be explained by cultural differences in mens focus on power.

The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on speech and behavioural mimicry in individuals at familial risk for depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been associated with abnormalities in speech and behavioural mimicry. These abnormalities may contribute to the impairments in interpersonal functioning that are often seen in MDD patients. MDD has also been associated with disturbances in the brain serotonin system, but the extent to which serotonin regulates speech and behavioural mimicry remains unclear. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, we induced acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) in individuals with or without a family history of MDD. Five hours afterwards, participants engaged in two behavioural-mimicry experiments in which speech and behaviour were recorded. ATD reduced the time participants waited before speaking, which might indicate increased impulsivity. However, ATD did not significantly alter speech otherwise, nor did it affect mimicry. This suggests that a brief lowering of brain serotonin has limited effects on verbal and non-verbal social behaviour. The null findings may be due to low test sensitivity, but they otherwise suggest that low serotonin has little effect on social interaction quality in never-depressed individuals. It remains possible that recovered MDD patients are more strongly affected.

Sleep deprivation affects memory formation and adaptation : studies on maze learning and reversal learning in mice

Objective: Does snoring during pregnancy influence development of pre-eclampsia?Method: Five hundred and three pregnant women were presented a questionnaire concerning snoring, daytime sleepiness a ...withdrawn O141 Sleep-wake cycle in ballet dancers M. GLOS, T. PENZEL, J. STRAUCH, C. THEOBALD and I. FIETZE Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany and Staatsballett Berlin, Berlin, Germany Introduction: Ballet dancers are top athletes and artists with extreme demands on their body and intellectual functions. In this group a normal work schedule on a weekly basis is absent and moreover, half of the week working days last until late evenings. Methods: We investigated the sleep-wake cycle over a period of three months prior to a premiere of a new performance by using actigraphy in 28 (17w, 11 m) ballet dancers (mean age 27 5 years, BMI 19 2) of the ‘‘Staatsballett Berlin’’, a big independent ballet institution of the three institutionalized opera houses in Berlin, Germany. Before starting the actigraphy recording (Actiwatch, Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd, Cambridge, UK) which was accompanied by filling in activity diaries and sleep logs on a daily basis, a physical examination as well as a sleep medical examination and ambulatory polygraphy (Embletta PDS, Embla Systems, Broomfield, CO, USA) was performed. Results: Out of the 28 ballet dancers who were included, 24 of them completed the study after three months. Altogether we found a regular sleep-wake cycle but no circaseptan rhythm in this population. In addition a delayed sleep phase was predominant. In the course of three month the sleep efficacy (SE) was reduced significantly (82 to 77 percent, Po0.01) without changes in the amount of movements and total sleep time (TST) during the night. These findings were independent of the gender of the ballet dancers. The parameters SE and TST are generally lower than in the general age matched German population. These results were accompanied by diminished mental health scores (SF12 questionnaire) and diminished concentration capabilities (d2 test). Conclusion: The preparation time of a new performance in the course of three month caused additional stress in the investigated ballet dancers which was apparent in a diminished sleep quality. In order to guarantee a good status of health and the high degree of physical and mental capability a good management of rest and a activity is needed. As a consequence a dedicated room for rest has been installed at the opera for the ballet dancers. r 2008 European Sleep Research Society, JSR 17 (Suppl. 1), 1–271 Spotlight on Circadian Clock Works On and Off Stage 81