Abstract
Neuroimaging techniques serve as a conduit connecting conventional social sciences and neuroscience by depicting neural substrates of human social behavior, a gateway into basic neuro- scientific investigation conducted from molecular to system level. Targeting the mechanism of breakdown of the socialization, examined is the neural basis of psychiatric disorders using animal models. Research on the neural substrates of the normal and atypical development of the socialization process will benefit from the use of experimental animals sharing common underlying genetic characteristics with psychiatric patients. Animal models will be employed to identify endophenotypes of psychiatric disorders at multiple levels. Imaging science is expected to integrate different levels of information. Knowledge obtained by experimental studies, however, should be tested in social contexts before applied to real- life social situations. Cohort studies are best suited to clarify how social competence develops. Large- scale cohort studies are necessary for in- depth examination of the factors contributing to its development. Combined with cohort studies, the validity of neuro- scientific information is to be tested in actual social contexts using input from other disciplines of human sciences, and the results to be fed back to revise hypotheses. Developmental cohort studies utilizing neuro- scientific findings will provide a suitable arena for such interdisciplinary efforts.
