Mentalizing and interpersonal competence: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

• Xuemei Cheng

  Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing Polytechnic

• Li Zheng

  Fudan Institute on Ageing and MOE Laboratory for National Development and Intelligent Governance, Fudan University

• Jipeng Duan

  Department of Psychology and Center of Group Behavior and Social Psychological Service, Ningbo University

• Zhiyuan Liu

  Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Shaanxi Normal University

• Dunhua Huang

  Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing Polytechnic

• Haijun Zhou

  Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing Polytechnic

• Xiuyan Guo

  Fudan Institute on Ageing and MOE Laboratory for National Development and Intelligent Governance, Fudan University

Mentalizing enables individuals to understand others, thereby playing an important role in social interactions. Interpersonal competence reflects the ability to cultivate close relationships with others. This study utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to further explore the relationship between mentalizing and interpersonal competence. We assessed the correlation between participants’ interpersonal competence and their functional connectivity values within the mentalizing network. The results revealed significant positive correlations between Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire scores and functional connectivity values, particularly in connections involving the right temporoparietal junction with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, the precuneus, and the left temporoparietal junction. These findings highlight the collaborative effect of the mentalizing network and provide empirical evidence for the significant role of mentalizing in interpersonal interactions.

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