Cerebral and cerebellar correlates of social cognitive impairment in schizophrenia

Social cognition is a broad construct encompassing the ways in which individuals perceive, process, and use information about other people. Social cognition involves both lower- and higher-level processes such as emotion recognition and theory of mind, respectively. Social cognitive impairments have been repeatedly demonstrated in schizophrenia spectrum illnesses and, crucially, are related to functional outcomes. In this review, we summarize the literature investigating the brain networks implicated in social cognitive impairments in schizophrenia spectrum illnesses. In addition to cortical and limbic loci and networks, we also discuss evidence for cerebellar contributions to social cognitive impairment in this population. We conclude by synthesizing these two literatures, with an emphasis on current knowledge gaps, particularly in regard to cerebellar influences, and future directions.

Automated summary

Social cognition refers to the ways individuals perceive, process, and use information about others. Impairments in social cognition are commonly found in schizophrenia spectrum illnesses and have an impact on functional outcomes. This review summarizes the research on brain networks and cerebellar contributions to social cognitive impairments in this population, while highlighting current knowledge gaps and future directions.