Inflammation impairs social cognitive processing: A randomized controlled trial of endotoxin.

ABSTRACT:

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Neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., autism, schizophrenia) are partially characterized by social cognitive deficits, including impairments in the ability to perceive others' emotional states, which is an aspect of social cognition known as theory of mind (ToM). There is also evidence that inflammation may be implicated in the etiology of these disorders, but experimental data linking inflammation to deficits in social cognition is sparse. Thus, we examined whether exposure to an experimental inflammatory challenge led to changes in ToM. One hundred and fifteen (n=115) healthy participants were randomly assigned to receive either endotoxin, which is an inflammatory challenge, or placebo. Participants completed a social cognition task, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME)

SUBMITTER: Moieni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4508216 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature