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A nexus model of the temporal-parietal junction
R McKell Carter1, Scott A Huettel
1Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|June 25, 2013
Summary
The temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) integrates attention, memory, and social processing. This nexus model explains its role in social decision-making and resolves conflicting theories on TPJ function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Cognition
Background:
- The temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) function is debated, with theories suggesting roles in either specific social cognition or general cognitive processes like attention and memory.
- Diverse findings complicate a unified understanding of TPJ's contribution to behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and provide evidence for a nexus model of TPJ function.
- To reconcile competing theories regarding the TPJ's role in cognition and social behavior.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies investigating TPJ function.
- Examination of anatomical convergence of various cognitive processes within the TPJ.
Main Results:
- Meta-analytic evidence supports the anatomical convergence of attention, memory, language, and social processing networks in the TPJ.
- This convergence suggests a higher-order role for the TPJ in constructing a social context for behavior.
Conclusions:
- The proposed nexus model integrates diverse findings on TPJ function.
- The TPJ's role in social decision-making is explained by the overlap of basic cognitive processes, reconciling previous theoretical conflicts.
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