Intuitive physics ability in systemizers relies on differential use of the internalizing system and long-term spatial representations

Abstract

<p>According to the Empathizing-Systemizing theory (E-S Theory), individual differences in how people understand the physical world (systemizing) and the social world (empathizing), are two continuums in the general population with several implications, from <a title="Learn more about Vocational Interests" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/vocational-interests"><u>vocational interests</u></a> to skills in the social and physical domains. The underlying mechanisms of intuitive physics performance among individuals with strong systemizing and weak empathizing (systemizers) are, however, unknown. Our results affirm higher intuitive physics skills in healthy adult systemizers (N=36), and further reveal the brain mechanisms that are characteristic for those individuals in carrying out such tasks. When the participants performed intuitive physics tasks during <a title="Learn more about Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/functional-magnetic-resonance-imaging"><u>functional magnetic resonance imaging</u></a>, combined higher systemizing and lower empathizing was associated with stronger activations in parts of the <a title="Learn more about Default Mode Network" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/default-mode-network"><u>default mode network</u></a> (DMN, <a title="Learn more about Cuneus" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/cuneus"><u>cuneus</u></a> and posterior cingulate gyrus), middle occipital <a title="Learn more about Gyri" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/gyri"><u>gyrus</u></a>, and parahippocampal region. The posterior cingulate gyrus and <a title="Learn more about Parahippocampal Gyrus" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/parahippocampal-gyrus"><u>parahippocampal gyrus</u></a> were specifically associated with systemizing “brain type” even after controlling for <a title="Learn more about Performance Task" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/performance-task"><u>task performance</u></a>, while especially in the parietal <a title="Learn more about Cortex" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/cortex"><u>cortex</u></a>, the activation changes were simply explained by higher task performance. We therefore suggest that utilization of DMN-parahippocampal complex, suggested to play a role in internalizing and activating long-term <a title="Learn more about Spatial Memory" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/spatial-memory"><u>spatial memory</u></a> representations, is the factor that distinguishes systemizers from empathizers with the opposite “brain type” in intuitive physics tasks.<br /></p>