Neuroimaging the Consciousness of Self: Review, and Conceptual-Methodological Framework.
P. Frewen, M. Schroeter, G. Riva, P. Cipresso, Beth Fairfield, C. Padulo, A. Kemp, L. Palaniyappan, Mayowa Owolabi, K. Kusi-Mensah, Maryna Polyakova, Nicholas Fehertoi, Wendy D’andrea, Leroy Lowe, G. Northoff
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews January 26, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.023 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA review of neuroimaging research on self-referential processing (SRP) distinguishes between verbal and non-verbal forms, each occurring in controlled, top-down tasks (introspection and interoception) and in spontaneous, bottom-up states (mind wandering and body wandering during rest). The authors propose a conceptual and methodological framework for future SRP research, which they apply to understanding psychological and neurological disorders linked to abnormal SRP. The discussion draws on William James' writings on the consciousness of self.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychology Medicine |
| Key finding | Self-referential processing can be divided into verbal and non-verbal forms, each with controlled and spontaneous modes, and a framework for future research is outlined. |
Abstract
We review neuroimaging research investigating self-referential processing (SRP), that is, how we respond to stimuli that reference ourselves, prefaced by a lexical-thematic analysis of words indicative of "self-feelings". We consider SRP as occurring verbally (V-SRP) and non-verbally (NV-SRP), both in the controlled, "top-down" form of introspective and interoceptive tasks, respectively, as well as in the "bottom-up" spontaneous or automatic form of "mind wandering" and "body wandering" that occurs during resting state. Our review leads us to outline a conceptual and methodological framework for future SRP research that we briefly apply toward understanding certain psychological and neurological disorders symptomatically associated with abnormal SRP. Our discussion is partly guided by William James' original writings on the consciousness of self.