Gökhan Aydogan

Abstract Mentalization, inferring others’ emotions and intentions, is crucial for human social interactions and is impaired in various brain disorders. While previous neuroscience research has focused on static mentalization strategies, we know little about how the brain adaptively selects which strategies to use at any given moment. Here we investigate this core aspect of mentalization with computational modeling and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during interactive strategic games.

Abstract Cooperation is essential for success in society. Research consistently showed that adolescents are less cooperative than adults, which is often attributed to underdeveloped mentalizing that limits their expectations of others. However, the internal computations underlying this reduced cooperation remain largely unexplored. This study compared cooperation between adolescents and adults using a repeated Prisoner's Dilemma Game.

The tendency to engage in risky behavior relates to genetic predispositions and brain structure, but the molecular pathways linking genes to neuroanatomical changes remain elusive. A recent study reveals how specific gene expression patterns shape brain structures associated with risk-taking, suggesting a mechanistic pathway from genes to maladaptive behavior.