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Angela CIARAMIDARO

Professore Associato
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze - sede Padiglione De Sanctis - Campus San Lazzaro

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Pubblicazioni

2024 - Profilo cognitivo in studenti universitari con DSA: confronto tra studenti con sola dislessia e con DSA di tipo misto [Poster]
Camia, M.; Benassi, E.; Gontkovsky, S. T.; Puddu, M.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Termine, C.; Simeoni, L.; Mauro, M.; Scorza, M.
abstract

2023 - Cognitive Profile Discrepancies among Typical University Students and Those with Dyslexia and Mixed-Type Learning Disorder [Articolo su rivista]
Scorza, Maristella; Gontkovsky, Samuel T.; Puddu, Marta; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Termine, Cristiano; Simeoni, Loriana; Mauro, Marcella; Benassi, Erika
abstract

2022 - A novel approach to measure brain-to-brain spatial and temporal alignment during positive empathy [Articolo su rivista]
Toppi, J.; Siniatchkin, M.; Vogel, P.; Freitag, C. M.; Astolfi, L.; Ciaramidaro, A.
abstract

: Empathy is defined as the ability to vicariously experience others' suffering (vicarious pain) or feeling their joy (vicarious reward). While most neuroimaging studies have focused on vicarious pain and describe similar neural responses during the observed and the personal negative affective involvement, only initial evidence has been reported for the neural responses to others' rewards and positive empathy. Here, we propose a novel approach, based on the simultaneous recording of multi-subject EEG signals and exploiting the wavelet coherence decomposition to measure the temporal alignment between ERPs in a dyad of interacting subjects. We used the Third-Party Punishment (TPP) paradigm to elicit the personal and vicarious experiences. During a positive experience, we observed the simultaneous presence in both agents of the Late Positive Potential (LPP), an ERP component related to emotion processing, as well as the existence of an inter-subject ERPs synchronization in the related time window. Moreover, the amplitude of the LPP synchronization was modulated by the presence of a human-agent. Finally, the localized brain circuits subtending the ERP-synchronization correspond to key-regions of personal and vicarious reward. Our findings suggest that the temporal and spatial ERPs alignment might be a novel and direct proxy measure of empathy.

2022 - Neuronal response to high negative affective stimuli in major depressive disorder: An fMRI study [Articolo su rivista]
Trettin, M.; Dvorak, J.; Hilke, M.; Wenzler, S.; Hagen, M.; Ghirmai, N.; Stablein, M.; Matura, S.; Huthmacher, A. -C.; Kraft, D.; Balaban, C.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Prvulovic, D.; Knochel, C.; Reif, A.; Oertel, V.
abstract

Background: Disturbed emotion processing underlies depression. We examined the neuronal underpinnings of emotional processing in patients (PAT) with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to healthy volunteers (HV) using functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) scan. Methods: Thirty-six MDD patients and 30 HV underwent T2-weighted fMRI assessments during the presentation of an implicit affective processing task in three conditions. They differed regarding their affective quality (=valence, high negative, low negative and neutral stimuli) and regarding the arousal based on stimuli from the International Affective Picture System. Results: Group contrasts showed lower left-sided activation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior PFC, precentral and premotor cortex in PAT compared with HV (Cluster-level threshold, 5000 iterations, p<0.01). We found a significant interaction effect of valence and group, a significant effect of emotional valence and a significant effect of group. All effects were shown in brain regions within the emotional network (Cluster-level threshold, 5000 iterations, p<0.01). Higher arousal (rho=-0.33, p<0.01) and higher valence (rho=-0.33, p<0.01) during high negative stimuli presentation as well as more severe depression (Beck Depression Inventory II [BDI II]; r = 0.39, p = 0.01) were significantly negatively associated with left DLFPC activity in patients. Limitations: Potential influence of psychopharmacological drugs on functional activation is one of the most discussed source of bias in studies with medicated psychiatric patients. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of left DLPFC during the processing of negative emotional stimuli in MDD. The integration of a neurophysiological model of emotional processing in MDD may help to clarify and improve therapeutic options.

2022 - To collaborate or not to collaborate: understanding human-robot collaboration [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Villani, Valeria; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Iani, Cristina; Rubichi, Sandro; Sabattini, Lorenzo
abstract

2021 - The obsessions of the green-eyed monster: jealousy and the female brain [Articolo su rivista]
Steis, N.; Oddo-Sommerfeld, S.; Echterhoff, G.; Thiel, A.; Thiel, J.; Briem, K.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Freitag, C. M.; Mecklinger, A.; Unterhorst, K.; Stirn, A.
abstract

The present brain-imaging study assessed neural correlates of romantic jealousy in women who had suffered real infidelity by their partner. We predicted to find activation across different brain structures associated with the processing of negative emotions and cognitive processes as well as obsessive-compulsive behavior. FMRI scans were administered while participants listened to descriptions of their own or another person’s experience of infidelity and jealousy, or to nonsense words. In the self-experienced (vs. other-experienced) jealousy condition, activity was greater in areas commonly associated with the interaction between different negative emotions (i.e., insula, anterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex) such as fear, anger, sadness and cognitive processes like rumination. Enhanced activity was also found in the fronto-striato-thalamo-frontal circuit, a network implicated in habit formation and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Activation in the above networks was not enhanced when participants listened to other-experienced infidelity reports, as indicated by comparisons with the neutral condition. We discuss implications for the understanding and treatment of jealousy.

2020 - Communicative intentions in autism spectrum disorder [Articolo su rivista]
Schutz, M.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Martinelli, A.; Oller, R.; Hartmann, D.; Hein, G.; Iotzov, V.; Colle, L.; Becchio, C.; Walter, H.; Freitag, C. M.
abstract

Background: Deficits in social communication and interaction are among the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Intention understanding in particular has been shown to be impaired in ASD. However, only one previous study has explicitly assessed the understanding of communicative intentions in ASD. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare neural activation during the observation of communicative and non-communicative actions in participants with ASD and typically developing (TD) controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Based on recent findings that show that the degree of involvement of the observer has an impact on neural activation, the present study included first- and third-person perspective stimuli. Method: Twenty-five male TD (mean age 20.41 ± 3.39) and twenty-two male participants with ASD (mean age 18.60 ± 3.55) were included. Stimuli consisted of videos in which actors performed an action with an everyday object. Actions were either private or communicative; communicative actions were either directed at the observer (first-person) or at a third person. Results: The ASD group showed reduced activation in the human middle temporal complex (hMT+) across all conditions. However, modulation of activation in response to different conditions remained intact in ASD. Additionally, while TD showed an increase in premotor cortex (PMC) activation in response to communicative actions directed at them, the ASD group showed a decrease in activation. Conclusions: These findings suggest an early processing deficit with regard to human biological motion in ASD. Furthermore, results reflect a reduced preparedness for social interactions in ASD compared to TD when addressed directly.

2020 - Patient-Clinician Brain Response during Clinical Encounter and Pain Treatment [Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Anzolin, A.; Isenburg, K.; Grahl, A.; Toppi, J.; Yucel, M.; Ellingsen, D. M.; Gerber, J.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Astolfi, L.; Kaptchuk, T. J.; Napadow, V.
abstract

The patient-clinician relationship is known to significantly affect the pain experience, as empathy, mutual trust and therapeutic alliance can significantly modulate pain perception and influence clinical therapy outcomes. The aim of the present study was to use an EEG hyperscanning setup to identify brain and behavioral mechanisms supporting the patient-clinician relationship while this clinical dyad is engaged in a therapeutic interaction. Our previous study applied fMRI hyperscanning to investigate whether brain concordance is linked with analgesia experienced by a patient while undergoing treatment by the clinician. In this current hyperscanning project we investigated similar outcomes for the patient-clinician dyad exploiting the high temporal resolution of EEG and the possibility to acquire the signals while patients and clinicians were present in the same room and engaged in a face-to-face interaction under an experimentally-controlled therapeutic context. Advanced source localization methods allowed for integration of spatial and spectral information in order to assess brain correlates of therapeutic alliance and pain perception in different clinical interaction contexts. Preliminary results showed that both behavioral and brain responses across the patient-clinician dyad were significantly affected by the interaction style.Clinical Relevance - The context of a clinical intervention can significantly impact the treatment of chronic pain. Effective therapeutic alliance, based on empathy, mutual trust, and warmth can improve treatment adherence and clinical outcomes. A deeper scientific understanding of the brain and behavioral mechanisms underlying an optimal patient-clinician interaction may lead to improved quality of clinical care and physician training, as well as better understanding of the social aspects of the biopsychosocial model mediating analgesia in chronic pain patients.

2020 - Raising the bar: Can dual scanning improve our understanding of joint action? [Articolo su rivista]
Astolfi, L.; Toppi, J.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Vogel, P.; Freitag, C. M.; Siniatchkin, M.
abstract

Two-person neuroscience (2 ​PN) is a recently introduced conceptual and methodological framework used to investigate the neural basis of human social interaction from simultaneous neuroimaging of two or more subjects (hyperscanning). In this study, we adopted a 2 ​PN approach and a multiple-brain connectivity model to investigate the neural basis of a form of cooperation called joint action. We hypothesized different intra-brain and inter-brain connectivity patterns when comparing the interpersonal properties of joint action with non-interpersonal conditions, with a focus on co-representation, a core ability at the basis of cooperation. 32 subjects were enrolled in dual-EEG recordings during a computerized joint action task including three conditions: one in which the dyad jointly acted to pursue a common goal (joint), one in which each subject interacted with the PC (PC), and one in which each subject performed the task individually (Solo). A combination of multiple-brain connectivity estimation and specific indices derived from graph theory allowed to compare interpersonal with non-interpersonal conditions in four different frequency bands. Our results indicate that all the indices were modulated by the interaction, and returned a significantly stronger integration of multiple-subject networks in the joint vs. PC and Solo conditions. A subsequent classification analysis showed that features based on multiple-brain indices led to a better discrimination between social and non-social conditions with respect to single-subject indices. Taken together, our results suggest that multiple-brain connectivity can provide a deeper insight into the understanding of the neural basis of cooperation in humans.

2019 - Il ruolo della valenza emotiva in compiti di compatibilità spaziale con oggetti afferrabili [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Scerrati, Elisa; Iani, Cristina; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Rubichi, Sandro
abstract

2018 - EEG Hyperscanning to Investigate Compassion and Altruistic Behavior [Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Toppi, J.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Freitag, C. M.; Siniatchkin, M.; Astolfi, L.
abstract

2018 - Multiple-Brain connectivity during third party punishment: an EEG hyperscanning study [Articolo su rivista]
Ciaramidaro, A.; Toppi, J.; Casper, C.; Freitag, C. M.; Siniatchkin, M.; Astolfi, L.
abstract

Compassion is a particular form of empathic reaction to harm that befalls others and is accompanied by a desire to alleviate their suffering. This altruistic behavior is often manifested through altruistic punishment, wherein individuals penalize a deprecated human's actions, even if they are directed toward strangers. By adopting a dual approach, we provide empirical evidence that compassion is a multifaceted prosocial behavior and can predict altruistic punishment. In particular, in this multiple-brain connectivity study in an EEG hyperscanning setting, compassion was examined during real-time social interactions in a third-party punishment (TPP) experiment. We observed that specific connectivity patterns were linked to behavioral and psychological intra- and interpersonal factors. Thus, our results suggest that an ecological approach based on simultaneous dual-scanning and multiple-brain connectivity is suitable for analyzing complex social phenomena.

2018 - Transdiagnostic deviant facial recognition for implicit negative emotion in autism and schizophrenia [Articolo su rivista]
Ciaramidaro, Angela; Bölte, Sven; Schlitt, Sabine; Hainz, Daniela; Poustka, Fritz; Weber, Bernhard; Freitag, Christine; Walter, Henrik
abstract

Impaired facial affect recognition (FAR) is observed in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has been linked to amygdala and fusiform gyrus dysfunction. ASD patient's impairments seem to be more pronounced during implicit rather than explicit FAR, whereas for schizophrenia data are inconsistent. However, there are no studies comparing both patient groups in an identical design. The aim of this three-group study was to identify (i) whether FAR alterations are equally present in both groups, (ii) whether they are present rather during implicit or explicit FAR, (iii) and whether they are conveyed by similar or disorder-specific neural mechanisms. Using fMRI, we investigated neural activation during explicit and implicit negative and neutral FAR in 33 young-adult individuals with ASD, 20 subjects with paranoid-schizophrenia and 25 IQ- and gender-matched controls individuals. Differences in activation patterns between each clinical group and controls, respectively were found exclusively for implicit FAR in amygdala and fusiform gyrus. In addition, the ASD group additionally showed reduced activations in medial prefrontal cortex (PFC), bilateral dorso-lateral PFC, ventro-lateral PFC, posterior-superior temporal sulcus and left temporo-parietal junction. Although subjects with ASD showed more widespread altered activation patterns, a direct comparison between both patient groups did not show disorder-specific deficits in neither patient group. In summary, our findings are consistent with a common neural deficit during implicit negative facial affect recognition in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.

2017 - Neural correlates of affective empathy and reinforcement learning in boys with conduct problems: fMRI evidence from a gambling task [Articolo su rivista]
Schwenck, Christina; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Selivanova, Marina; Tournay, Jennifer; Freitag, Christine M.; Siniatchkin, Michael
abstract

2016 - Third-party punishment: altruistic and anti-social behaviours in in-group and out-group settings [Articolo su rivista]
Rabellino, Daniela; Morese, Rosalba; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Bara, Bruno G.; Bosco, Francesca M.
abstract

2015 - Graph theory in brain-to-brain connectivity: A simulation study and an application to an EEG hyperscanning experiment [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Toppi, Jlenia; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Vogel, P.; Mattia, D.; Babiloni, Fabio; Siniatchkin, M.; Astolfi, Laura
abstract

Hyperscanning consists in the simultaneous recording of hemodynamic or neuroelectrical signals from two or more subjects acting in a social context. Well-established methodologies for connectivity estimation have already been adapted to hyperscanning purposes. The extension of graph theory approach to multi-subjects case is still a challenging issue. In the present work we aim to test the ability of the currently used graph theory global indices in describing the properties of a network given by two interacting subjects. The testing was conducted first on surrogate brain-to-brain networks reproducing typical social scenarios and then on real EEG hyperscanning data recorded during a Joint Action task. The results of the simulation study highlighted the ability of all the investigated indexes in modulating their values according to the level of interaction between subjects. However, only global efficiency and path length indexes demonstrated to be sensitive to an asymmetry in the communication between the two subjects. Such results were, then, confirmed by the application on real EEG data. Global efficiency modulated, in fact, their values according to the inter-brain density, assuming higher values in the social condition with respect to the non-social condition.

2015 - Investigating the neural basis of empathy by EEG hyperscanning during a Third Party Punishment [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Astolfi, Laura; Toppi, Jlenia; Casper, Chantal; Freitag, Christine; Mattia, Donatella; Babiloni, Fabio; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Siniatchkin, Michael
abstract

The recently developed technique of hyperscanning consists of the simultaneous recording of brain activity from multiple subjects involved in social interaction. The multivariate analysis of data coming from different subjects allows to model a system made of multiple brains interacting, and to characterize it in relation with different processes at the basis of social cognition. In this study, we investigate the empathy established between two subjects during a Third Party Punishment paradigm, in terms of the properties of the multiple-brain network obtained from EEG hyperscanning. Preliminary results show that significantly different multiple-brain network structures characterize a social situation operated by a human agent with respect to a computer based condition, and that the different levels of empathy induced by a fair or unfair treatment received by one of the subjects are characterized by denser inter-subjects connectivity and lower divisibility in the two single brain networks.

2015 - Schizophrenia and autism AS contrasting minds: Neural evidence for the hypo-hyper-intentionality hypothesis [Articolo su rivista]
Ciaramidaro, Angela; Bölte, Sven; Schlitt, Sabine; Hainz, Daniela; Poustka, Fritz; Weber, Bernhard; Bara, Bruno G.; Freitag, Christine; Walter, Henrik
abstract

2015 - Training-induced plasticity of the social brain in autism spectrum disorder [Articolo su rivista]
Bölte, Sven; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Schlitt, Sabine; Hainz, Daniela; Kliemann, Dorit; Poustka, Fritz; Beyer, Anke; Freitag, Christine; Walter, Henrik
abstract

2014 - Do you mean me? Communicative intentions recruit the mirror and the mentalizing system [Articolo su rivista]
Ciaramidaro, Angela; Becchio, Cristina; Colle, Livia; Bara Bruno, G.; Walter, Henrik
abstract

2014 - Facial emotion recognition in paranoid schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder [Articolo su rivista]
Sachse, Michael; Schlitt, Sabine; Hainz, Daniela; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Walter, Henrik; Poustka, Fritz; Bölte, Sven; Freitag Christine, M.
abstract

2014 - Investigating the neural basis of cooperative joint action. An EEG hyperscanning study [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
L., Astolfi; J., Toppi; P., Vogel; D., Mattia; F., Babiloni; Ciaramidaro, Angela; M., Siniatchkin
abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the neurophysiological basis of the cognitive functions underlying the execution of joint actions, by means of the recent technique called hyperscanning. Neuroelectrical hyperscanning is based on the simultaneous recording of brain activity from multiple subjects and includes the analysis of the functional relation between the brain activity of all the interacting individuals. We recorded simultaneous high density electroencephalography (hdEEG) from 16 pairs of subjects involved in a computerized joint action paradigm, with controlled levels of cooperation. Results of cortical connectivity analysis returned significant differences, in terms of inter-brain functional causal links, between the condition of cooperative joint action and a condition in which the subjects were told they were interacting with a PC, while actually interacting with another human subject. Such differences, described by selected brain connectivity indices, point toward an integration between the two subjects' brain activity in the cooperative condition, with respect to control conditions.

2014 - Soziale kognition bei autismus-spektrum-störungen und störungen des sozialverhaltens [Articolo su rivista]
Schwenck, Christina; Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2014 - Structural alterations of the social brain: A comparison between schizophrenia and autism [Articolo su rivista]
Radeloff, Daniel; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Siniatchkin, Michael; Hainz, Daniela; Schlitt, Sabine; Weber, Bernhard; Poustka, Fritz; Bölte, Sven; Walter, Henrik; Freitag Christine, Margarete
abstract

2013 - Executive and visuo-motor function in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder [Articolo su rivista]
Sachse, Michael; Schlitt, Sabine; Hainz, Daniela; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Schirman, Shella; Walter, Henrik; Poustka, Fritz; Bölte, Sven; Freitag Christine, M
abstract

2012 - A close eye on the eagle-eyed visual acuity hypothesis of autism [Articolo su rivista]
Bölte, Sven; Schlitt, Sabine; Gapp, Volker; Hainz, Daniela; Schirman, Shella; Poustka, Fritz; Weber, Bernhard; Freitag, Christine; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Walter, Henrik
abstract

A close eye on the eagle-eyed visual acuity hypothesis of autism

2012 - Cinesi e Italiani: Quanto si fidano? Risultati comportamentali di un gioco economico [Capitolo/Saggio]
Morese, Rosalba; Rabellino, Daniela; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Elena, Marco R.; Bara, Bruno G.; Bosco, Francesca M.
abstract

2012 - Contesti Ingroup e outgroup: Quanto ci fidiamo? [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Morese, Rosalba; Rabellino, Daniela; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Roberto Elena, Marco; Rosato, Rosalba; Marina Bosco, Francesca
abstract

2012 - Cooperative Behavior in Multicultural Settings: The Contribution of Altruistic Punishment [Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Rabellino, Daniela; Morese, Rosalba; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Bara, Bruno G.; Rosato, Rosalba; Bosco, Francesca M.
abstract

2012 - How much do you trust me? Economic decision-making and ingroup and outgroup membership [Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Morese, Rosalba; Rabellino, Daniela; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Elena, Marco R.; Bosco, Francesca M.; Rosato, Rosalba; Bara, Bruno G.
abstract

2012 - Quanto siamo disposti a perdere per punire un comportamento inaccettabile? Uno studio sulle differenze culturali intra e inter gruppo [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Marina Bosco, Francesca; Rabellino, Daniela; Morese, Rosalba; Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2012 - Third Party Punishment. La punizione altruistica nell’incontro fra culture [Capitolo/Saggio]
Rabellino, Daniela; Morese, Rosalba; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Bara, Bruno G.; Bosco, Francesca M.
abstract

2012 - Third party punishment in in-group & out-group settings: a comparison between Italians and Chinese [Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Rabellino, Daniela; Morese, Rosalba; Ciaramidaro, Angela; G Bara, Bruno; M Bosco, Francesca
abstract

2012 - To trust or not to trust?Ingroup and outgroup membership in Chinese and Italians [Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Morese, Rosalba; Rabellino, Daniela; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Elena, Marco; G Bara, Bruno; Rosato, Rosalba; Bosco, Francesca
abstract

2011 - Intentional minds: a philosophical analysis of intention tested through fMRI experiments involving people with schizophrenia, people with autism, and healthy individuals [Articolo su rivista]
Bara, B. G.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Walter, H.; Adenzato, M.
abstract

In this paper we show how we empirically tested one of the most relevant topics in philosophy of mind through a series of fMRI experiments: the classification of different types of intention. To this aim, firstly we trace a theoretical distinction among private, prospective and communicative intentions. Second, we propose a set of predictions concerning the recognition of these three types of intention in healthy individuals, and we report the experimental results corroborating our theoretical model of intention. Third, we derive from our model predictions relevant for the domain of psychopathological functioning. In particular, we treat the cases of both hyper-intentionality (as in paranoid schizophrenia) and hypo-intentionality (as in autistic spectrum disorders). Our conclusion is that the theoretical model of intention we propose contributes to enlarge our knowledge on the neurobiological bases of intention processing, in both healthy people and in people with impairments to the neurocognitive system that underlies intention recognition.

2010 - Acute and sustained effects of cognitive emotion regulation in major depression [Articolo su rivista]
Erk, Susanne; Mikschl, Alexandra; Stier, Sabine; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Gapp, Volker; Weber, Bernhard; Walter, Henrik
abstract

Adult; Cognition; Depressive Disorder; Major; Emotions; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Photic Stimulation; Psychomotor Performance; Time Factors; Neuroscience (all)

2010 - Intentions in the brain [Articolo su rivista]
Bara, Bruno; Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2009 - Dysfunction of the social brain in schizophrenia is modulated by intention type: an fMRI study [Articolo su rivista]
Walter, H.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Adenzato, M.; Vasic, N.; Ardito, R. B.; Erk, S.; Bara, B. G.
abstract

In this fMRI study, we investigated theory of mind (ToM) in patients with paranoid schizophrenia. We hypothesized that the network supporting the representation of intentions is dysfunctional in patients with schizophrenia dependent on the type of intention involved. We used a paradigm including a control condition (physical causation) and three intention conditions (private intention, prospective social intention and communicative intentions) differing in the degree of social interaction. In all four experimental conditions patients performed worse than controls regarding accuracy and reaction time. They showed significantly less activation in three regions typically activated in ToM tasks, i.e. paracingulate cortex and bilateral temporo-parietal junctions. However, this dysfunction was dependent on the type of intention represented, i.e. was present only for social but not for nonsocial intentions. Moreover, part of the reduced activation was related to the fact that there was no signal drop in these regions for the physical causality condition as usually found in controls. This may be due to the tendency of schizophrenic patients to attribute intentionality to physical objects. Our findings have implications for the study and understanding of ToM in schizophrenia but also in other disorders like autism.

2009 - Hyperintentionality in schizophrenia: An fMRI study [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Bara, B. G.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Adenzato, M.; Vasic, N.; Ardito, R. B.; Erk, S.; Walter, H.
abstract

2009 - Intention Recognition In Autism: An Fmri Study [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, A; Boelte, S; Schlitt, S; Bara, B; Poustka, F. Walter H.
abstract

2009 - Intentionalität und neuronale Korrelate bei Autismus-Spektrum Störung [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2009 - Neural Effects Following Affect Recognition Training in Autism Spectrum Disorders [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Bölte, S.; Schlitt, S.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Beyer, A.; Hainz, D.; Weber, B.; Gapp, V.; Walter, F. Poustka H.
abstract

2009 - Probabilistic Reasoning in Psychosis: first Results of a German Multi-Center Project on the neural Correlates of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [Abstract in Rivista]
Pauly, K.; Lengsfeld, I.; Loos, S.; Rotarska-Jagiela, A.; Musso, F.; Ciaramidaro, A; Kellermann, T.; Schnell, K.; Kockler, H.; Brinkmeyer, J.; Schwalm, M.; Sauder, M.; Thienel, R.; Klingberg, S.; Walter, H.; Wiedemann, G.; Winterer, G.; Vogeley, K.; Müller, B.; Rapp, A.; Kircher, T.
abstract

2008 - Eine fMRT - Längsschnittstudie zur Objektivierung von FEFA- Trainingseffekten bei Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2008 - How the brain comprehends intentions [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Bara, B. G.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Adenzato, M.; Enrici, I.; Erk, S.; Pia, L.; Walter, H.
abstract

Theory of Mind (ToM) is a neurocognitive mechanism that allows us to make inferences about others’ mental states. Literature reports a distributed neural network underpinning ToM, including right and left Tempo-parietal junction Sulcus (right and left TPJ), Precuneus, and Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC). Although the prevalent view is that MPFC is the key region subserving ToM (Gallagher & Frith, 2003), recent evidence has shown that right TPJ may be more specific than MPFC (Saxe & Wexler, 2005). In order to contribute to this debate we present a new analysis of our previous data (Walter et al., 2004). Here we propose a model of a dynamic ToM-network consisting in four region with specific function depending on the type of prior intention inferred from an observed action.

2008 - I processi cognitivi e affettivi della neuroeconomia: il contributo della risonanza magnetica funzionale (fMRI) [Capitolo/Saggio]
Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2008 - Il riconoscimento dell’intenzionalità nell’Autismo: uno studio fMRI [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2008 - The neural substrates of person comparison-An fMRI study [Articolo su rivista]
Lindner, Michael; Hundhammer, Tanja; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Linden David, E. J.; Mussweiler, Thomas
abstract

NA

2007 - Emotion regulation in patients with depression: An fMRI study [Abstract in Rivista]
Walter, H.; Mikschl, A.; Stier, S.; Ciaramidaro, A; Gapp, V.; Weber, B.; Erk, S
abstract

2007 - Iperintenzionalità in pazienti con schizofrenia: uno studio fMRI [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, A.; Walter, H.; Adenzato, M.; Ardito, R. B.; Vasic, N.; Erk, S.; Bara B., G
abstract

2007 - The influence of the aged on the emotion regulation and their neuronal correlate [Abstract in Rivista]
Walter, H.; Stier, S.; Mikschl, A.; Ciaramidaro, A; Gapp, V.; Weber, B.; Erk, S.
abstract

2007 - The intentional network: How the brain reads varieties of intentions [Articolo su rivista]
Ciaramidaro, A; Adenzato, M; Enrici, I; Erk, S; Pia, L; Bara, Bg; Walter, H
abstract

Social neuroscience provides insights into the neural correlates of the human capacity to explain and predict other people’s intentions, a capacity that lies at the core of the Theory of Mind (ToM) mechanism. Results from neuroimaging research describe a widely distributed neural system underlying ToM, including the right and left temporo-parietal junctions (TPJ), the precuneus, and the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). Nevertheless, there is disagreement in the literature concerning the key region for the ToM network. Some authors point to the MPFC, others to the right TPJ. In the effort to make a contribution to the debate, we propose a model of a dynamic ToM network consisting of four regions. We also introduce a novel theoretical distinction among varieties of intention, which differ by the nature of an individual’s pursued goal (private or social) and by the social interaction’s temporal dimension (present or future). Our results confirm the crucial role of both the MPFC and the right TPJ, but show that these areas are differentially engaged depending on the nature of the intention involved. Whereas the right TPJ and the precuneus are necessary for processing all types of prior intentions, the left TPJ and the anterior paracingulate cortex are specifically involved in the understanding of social intention. More specifically, the left TPJ is activated only when a subset of social intentions are involved (communicative intentions). Taken together, these results demonstrate the progressive recruitment of the ToM network along the theoretical dimensions introduced in the present paper.

2006 - Reading other’s intentions: An fMRI study [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
BARA B., G; Adenzato, M; Enrici, I; Ciaramidaro, A; Pia, L; Erk, S; Walter, H
abstract

2006 - The signal time course of the theory of mind network [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, A.; Adenzato, M.; Enrici, I.; Erk, S.; Pia, L.; Bara, B. G.; Walter, H.
abstract

2005 - A parametric theory-of-mind design to investigate social cognition in schizophrenia [Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Walter, H; Ciaramidaro, A; Vasic, N; Adenzato, M; Bara, B G; Erk, S
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2005 - Default brain e interazione sociale: uno studio fMRI [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, A.; Adenzato, M.; Enrici, I.; Pia, L.; Erk, S.; Walter, H.; Bara, B. G.
abstract

2005 - Motivating forces of human actions: Neuroimaging reward and social interaction [Articolo su rivista]
Walter, Henrik; Abler, Birgit; Ciaramidaro, Angela; Erk, Susanne
abstract

2005 - Social Interaction and the Theory-of-Mind- Network [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Ciaramidaro, Angela
abstract

2004 - A social interactionist view of the anterior paracingulate cortex: An fMRI study [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Adenzato, M.; Bara, B. G.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Enrici, I.; Pia, L.; Walter, H.
abstract

2004 - Il ruolo della corteccia mediale prefrontale nell’attribuzione di intenzioni in contesti di interazione sociale [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Enrici, I.; Adenzato, M.; Pia, L.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Walter, H.; Bara, B. G.
abstract

2004 - Spielarten von intentionen: Parametrische aktivierung des anterioren paracingulären kortex in Theory-of-Mind aufgaben [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Walter, H.; Adenzato, M.; Enrici, I.; Pia, L.; Bara, B. G.; Ciaramidaro, A.
abstract

2004 - Understanding intentions in social interactions: The role of the anterior parancingulate cortex [Articolo su rivista]
Walter, H.; Adenzato, M.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Enrici, I.; Pia, L.; Bara, B.
abstract

Neuroimaging studies have identified the anterior paracingulate cortex (PCC) as the key prefrontal region subserving Theory of Mind. We adopt an evolutionary perspective hypothesizing that, in response to the pressures of social complexity, a mechanism for manipulating information concerning social interaction has emerged in the anterior-PCC. To date, neuroimaging studies have not properly distinguished between intentions of persons involved in social interactions and intentions of an isolated person. In two separate fMRI experiments, we demonstrated that the anterior-PCC is not necessarily involved in the understanding of other people’s intentions per se, but primarily in the understanding of the intentions of people involved in social interaction. Moreover, this brain region showed activation when a represented intention implies social interaction and therefore had not yet actually occurred. This result suggests that the anterior-PCC is also involved in our ability to predict future intentional social interaction, based on an isolated agent’s behavior. We conclude that distinct areas of the neural system underlying Theory of Mind are specialized in processing distinct classes of social stimuli.

2004 - Varieties of intentions: Parametric activation of the anterior paracingulate cortex in theory of mind tasks [Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Walter, H.; Adenzato, M.; Ciaramidaro, A.; Enrici, I.; Pia, L.; Bara, B. G.
abstract