The neural basis of representing others' inner states

Shared reality is facilitated by social mentalizing, that is, inferring the inner states such as beliefs and traits of another person. Recent advances in neuroscientific research on mentalizing have pinpointed the role of (a) the temporo-parietal junction in the switching of perspectives from self-to-other, and (b) the medial prefrontal cortex in holding stable neural representation of personality traits and the persons that hold these traits. Furthermore, the recently discovered role of the cerebellum in social mentalizing is introduced, and its potential role in inferring action sequences. These three processes are relevant preconditions for shared understanding because they allow people to adjust their own beliefs and adequately invest their talents by taking into account others' beliefs and traits, and so shape a shared reality in which differences in beliefs, opinions and talent are appreciated and integrated.