Rt for a link between temperature and trust processing, as revealed in brain activity rather than in behavior. In particular, the insula showed greater response to cold temperature, and this differential activation was re-observed during decision phases of trust game, suggesting a plausible neural basis for a relationship between experienced temperature and interpersonal trust. GENERAL DISCUSSION Physical coldness led to decreased trust behavior, compared to warmth. Furthermore, trust-related decisions recruited regions that also activated differentially to cold temperatures. Specifically, insula was more active during cold temperature perception, and also active in trust decisions after havingSCAN (2011)experienced cold. This differential brain activation during trust decisions as a function of prior experiences of different temperatures may explain how physical experiences with temperature can alter psychological states related to trust, as observed in several previous studies. Based on our data as well as those previous findings, our interpretation is that physical temperature experiences primed the insula, leading both to differences in behavioral responding (Study 1) and in patterns of neural activation (Study 2). A deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which cold temperatures obstruct trusting behaviors can inform both cognitive science and practice. The present work represents an important step towards further elucidating the mechanisms by which physical environmental cues can influence people’s judgments and decisions, by examining the neuropsychological consequences of exposure to cold vs warm temperatures. Furthermore, these studies provide initial evidence for the process by which conceptual scaffolding occurs (Williams et al., 2009), by highlighting how an evolutionarily significant physical concept (temperature) is functionally linked on a neural level to the metaphorically related higher order RG7800 supplement psychosocial concept (trust). Similar to the way in which the purchase L-660711 sodium salt processing of physical and psychological pain overlaps in specific areas of the brain (ACC; Eisenberger et al., 2003), so too it appears that there is functional overlap in the processing of information related to physical and psychological warmth. Considering practical implications, given the present findings and previous demonstrations of the effects of physical temperatures on psychological states (Zhong and Leonardelli, 2008; Ijzerman and Semin, 2009), it may be prudent to take physical temperature into account for cognitive and behavioral therapies treating psychopathological conditions, such as borderline personality disorder in which difficulties in expressing trust contribute to dysfunction (King-Casas et al., 2008). For example, it may be possible that physical experience with cold temperatures can lead patients to be less receptive to attempts at behavioral change designed to increase their capacity for trusting others (perhaps via increasing insula activity normally associated with cold temperatures and the expectation of risk; Knutson and Bossaerts, 2007). Risk perception literature provides possible explanations for the differential insula activity following temperature priming. Mounting evidence supports the association of insula and expected risk (Knutson and Bossaerts, 2007). Activation in insula increased proportionally to increasing risk (Dreher et al., 2006; Preuschoff et al., 2006, 2008), as well as in response to uncertainty in other financial and.Rt for a link between temperature and trust processing, as revealed in brain activity rather than in behavior. In particular, the insula showed greater response to cold temperature, and this differential activation was re-observed during decision phases of trust game, suggesting a plausible neural basis for a relationship between experienced temperature and interpersonal trust. GENERAL DISCUSSION Physical coldness led to decreased trust behavior, compared to warmth. Furthermore, trust-related decisions recruited regions that also activated differentially to cold temperatures. Specifically, insula was more active during cold temperature perception, and also active in trust decisions after havingSCAN (2011)experienced cold. This differential brain activation during trust decisions as a function of prior experiences of different temperatures may explain how physical experiences with temperature can alter psychological states related to trust, as observed in several previous studies. Based on our data as well as those previous findings, our interpretation is that physical temperature experiences primed the insula, leading both to differences in behavioral responding (Study 1) and in patterns of neural activation (Study 2). A deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which cold temperatures obstruct trusting behaviors can inform both cognitive science and practice. The present work represents an important step towards further elucidating the mechanisms by which physical environmental cues can influence people’s judgments and decisions, by examining the neuropsychological consequences of exposure to cold vs warm temperatures. Furthermore, these studies provide initial evidence for the process by which conceptual scaffolding occurs (Williams et al., 2009), by highlighting how an evolutionarily significant physical concept (temperature) is functionally linked on a neural level to the metaphorically related higher order psychosocial concept (trust). Similar to the way in which the processing of physical and psychological pain overlaps in specific areas of the brain (ACC; Eisenberger et al., 2003), so too it appears that there is functional overlap in the processing of information related to physical and psychological warmth. Considering practical implications, given the present findings and previous demonstrations of the effects of physical temperatures on psychological states (Zhong and Leonardelli, 2008; Ijzerman and Semin, 2009), it may be prudent to take physical temperature into account for cognitive and behavioral therapies treating psychopathological conditions, such as borderline personality disorder in which difficulties in expressing trust contribute to dysfunction (King-Casas et al., 2008). For example, it may be possible that physical experience with cold temperatures can lead patients to be less receptive to attempts at behavioral change designed to increase their capacity for trusting others (perhaps via increasing insula activity normally associated with cold temperatures and the expectation of risk; Knutson and Bossaerts, 2007). Risk perception literature provides possible explanations for the differential insula activity following temperature priming. Mounting evidence supports the association of insula and expected risk (Knutson and Bossaerts, 2007). Activation in insula increased proportionally to increasing risk (Dreher et al., 2006; Preuschoff et al., 2006, 2008), as well as in response to uncertainty in other financial and.