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TY - GEN ID - cogprints6907 UR - http://cogprints.org/6907/ A1 - Fields, Chris TI - From ?Oh, OK? to ?Ah, yes? to ?Aha!?: Hyper-systemizing and the rewards of insight Y1 - 2010/08/01/ N2 - Hyper-systemizers are individuals displaying an unusually strong bias toward systemizing, i.e. toward explaining events and solving problems by appeal to mechanisms that do not involve intentions or agency. Hyper-systemizing in combination with deficit mentalizing ability typically presents clinically as an autistic spectrum disorder; however, the development of hyper-systemizing in combination with normal-range mentalizing ability is not well characterized. A review of anecdotal reports, survey-based measurements, and experimental studies of systemizing suggests the hypothesis that hyper-systemizing in the presence of normal-range mentalizing develops as an addiction syndrome driven by the positive affect associated with insight solutions. A neurocognitive model of hypersystemizing as an outcome of insight addiction is constructed based on the incentive-sensitization model of addiction. If this model is correct, assaying subjects for bias on the systemizing ? mentalizing spectrum would be expected to reveal significant activity differentials in temporal-parietal-frontal networks on cognitive tasks with systemizing or mentalizing components within the neurotypical population. Predictions of the model accessible to survey-based instruments and standard cognitive measures are outlined, and evidence pertaining to them considered. AV - public KW - Systemizing KW - Mentalizing KW - Development KW - Addiction KW - Insight KW - Default network KW - Analogy ER -