Dysfunction of Social Cognition and Behavior

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Neurologists have generally paid relatively little attention to social behavior and its disorders. As a result, many individuals with suspected brain disorders primarily involving changes in social behavior have sought evaluations by psychiatrists or psychologists. This review summarizes recent findings from the growing field of social neuroscience and illustrates the relevance of this knowledge for the neurologist by reviewing contemporary research on frontotemporal dementia and its differential diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS: An explosion of research over the past 10 to 15 years has illuminated specific psychological processes involved in core facets of social behavior and their neural bases. In parallel, knowledge of the genetics, neurobiology, neuroimaging features, and clinical phenomenology of frontotemporal dementia has grown dramatically. SUMMARY: As the understanding of specific component processes involved in social behavior and their neural underpinnings deepen, neurologists may lead the way in using this knowledge to provide sophisticated evaluation and monitoring for patients with disorders of social behavior and ultimately may develop new therapeutic options to treat these brain disorders.