Intracranial Recordings in Epilepsy: an Approach to Understanding the Neural Mechanisms of Social Cognition

Social cognition, especially theory of mind (ToM), is often impaired in clinical populations including epilepsy, with serious consequences for quality of life. This review synthesizes evidence from clinical assessments, neuroimaging, and intracranial recording techniques to examine how social cognitive processes are represented in the human brain and how they may be disrupted in epilepsy. Emphasis is placed on the emerging contributions of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) and intracranial electrical stimulation (iES) to this field.

While the literature using iEEG/iES to investigate social cognition remains limited, recent studies have begun to map the spatiotemporal and causal underpinnings of ToM and related functions. This work complements behavioral and fMRI findings and suggests avenues for translational research. Intracranial techniques represent a promising tool for advancing social cognitive neuroscience. Integrating this approach with clinical data and established behavioral paradigms can enhance our understanding of social cognition and improve care for populations with focal epilepsy.