Distinct and common aspects of physical and psychological self-representation in the brain: A meta-analysis of self-bias in facial and self-referential judgements

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2016

Abstract

The neural representation of self is a fundamental question for brain research. Employing activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analyses, we assessed the commonalities and distinctions between different components of the self by focusing on the 'physical' self and the 'psychological' self - assessed respectively through face processing and self-referential tasks. We first conducted ALE meta-analyses by computing the convergence of findings on brain activation in self-face recognition and self-referential studies respectively. Contrast and conjunction analyses of these two meta-analytic results were then applied to extract the distinctions and commonalities in self-face and self-reference tasks. Facial self processing was particularly associated with lateral brain regions with a right hemispheric dominance, while processing psychological self predominantly activated cortical midline structures, more specifically the anterior cingulate cortex/superior frontal cortex. In contrast, the conjunction analyses showed that the two aspects of self-processing recruit the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the left inferior frontal gyrus extending to the insula. A framework including both distinct and common neural representation of selfs is discussed.

Identifier

84952683140 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.12.003

e-ISSN

18737528

ISSN

01497634

PubMed ID

26695384

First Page

197

Last Page

207

Volume

61

Grant

ES/J001597/1

Fund Ref

UK Research and Innovation

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