RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on visual perspective taking: A meta-analytic study
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.04.24.441219
DO 10.1101/2021.04.24.441219
A1 Yuan-Wei Yao
A1 Vivien Chopurian
A1 Lei Zhang
A1 Claus Lamm
A1 Hauke R. Heekeren
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/04/26/2021.04.24.441219.abstract
AB Visual perspective taking (VPT) is a critical ability required by complex social interaction. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been increasingly used to examine the causal relationship between brain activity and VPT, yet with heterogeneous results. In the current study, we conducted two meta-analyses to examine the effects of NIBS of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) or dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) on VPT, respectively. We performed a comprehensive literature search to identify qualified studies, and computed the standardized effect size (ES) for each combination of VPT level (Level-1: visibility judgment; Level-2: mental rotation) and perspective (self and other). Twelve studies (rTPJ: 11 studies, 20 ESs; dmPFC: 4 studies, 18 ESs) were included in the meta-analyses. Random-effects models were used to generate the overall effects. Subgroup analyses for distinct VPT conditions were also performed. We found that stimulation of rTPJ significantly improved participants’ visibility judgment from the allocentric perspective, whereas dmPFC stimulation mainly influenced Level-1 performance from the egocentric perspective. For both areas, the effects of stimulation on Level-2 performance are negligible. These findings suggest that the rTPJ and dmPFC are involved in basic allo-centric and egocentric perspective-taking processes, respectively. Notably, contrary to some theoretical models, neither of them appears to be necessary for more complex VPT with a higher requirement of mental rotation. These findings may help clarify the causal roles of the rTPJ and dmPFC in VPT and emphasize the importance of specifying VPT conditions in experimental designs.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.