Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Introspection

Introspection

Introspection, long upheld as a reliable route to self-knowledge, involves examining one's thoughts, emotions, and mental processes. It underpins many psychological practices, from mindfulness meditation to psychotherapy and self-help strategies. However, empirical evidence challenges the accuracy of introspection as a means of understanding oneself.Limitations of Introspective InsightSeminal work by Nisbett and Wilson demonstrated that individuals are frequently unaware of the true causes...

Self-Awareness and Its Effects

Self-Awareness and Its Effects

Self-awareness is a psychological state in which the individual becomes the focal point of their attention. This inward focus transforms the self into an object of contemplation and assessment, influencing how individuals perceive their actions and their alignment with personal and societal standards.Triggers and Contexts for Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness can be activated by external stimuli that make individuals visually or audibly aware of themselves, such as mirrors, cameras, or recordings.

Understanding the Self

Understanding the Self

The self is a central aspect of human identity, encompassing an individual’s beliefs, emotions, perceptions, and experiences. It is a cognitive and psychological construct that enables individuals to interpret their traits and behaviors, influencing how they perceive themselves and interact with the world. While personality consists of stable and enduring characteristics, the self is shaped by self-perception and social experiences. This distinction highlights the dynamic nature of the self,...

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...

Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation

Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation

Self-evaluation is the process by which individuals assess their abilities, behaviors, and characteristics based on feedback from others. Charles H. Cooley observed that a person’s self-perception is primarily influenced by how others see and judge them. He suggested that individuals form their identities based on their interpretations of others' reactions. As a result, social interactions play a crucial role in shaping self-esteem and personal identity. These external evaluations often blend...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

OFC-induced network modularity improves positive symptoms and attentional alertness in schizophrenia: a combined rTMS-fMRI study.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Inhibitory control deficits and ventral attention network alterations linked to apathy in schizophrenia.

Translational psychiatry·2026

Same author

US FDA premarket approval of tDCS depression treatment is not yet scientifically justified.

The lancet. Psychiatry·2026

Same author

Multiscale characterization of cortical signatures in positive and negative schizotypy: a worldwide ENIGMA study.

Molecular psychiatry·2026

Same author

Neurofunctional correlates of working memory across psychosis stages: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2026

Same author

Motor activity-based prediction of the presence of apathy in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia research·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

Activation of anterior insula during self-reflection.

Gemma Modinos¹, Johan Ormel, André Aleman

¹BCN Neuroimaging Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. g.modinos@med.umcg.nl

|February 27, 2009

Summary

Neuroimaging reveals that while midline brain regions are key for self-reflection, the insula uniquely activates during self-related thought. This suggests the insula plays a crucial role in our sense of self.

More Related Videos

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Published on: August 26, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Published on: August 26, 2011

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

Midline frontoparietal regions are implicated in self-related processes.
The insula's role in the
self
-network remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the neural correlates of self-reflection.
To examine the specific involvement of the insula in self-related processing compared to other-related processing and general knowledge.

Main Methods:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
Participants reflected on personal qualities versus those of an acquaintance and general knowledge statements.

Main Results:

Common activation in medial prefrontal and posterior regions for both self and other reflection.
Distinct activation in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) for self-reflection.
Unique neural activation in the left anterior insula associated with self-reflection.

Conclusions:

Anterior MPFC and ACC are specifically recruited for self-related processing.
The insula plays a significant role in self-reflection.
Insula's connection to internal body signals may contribute to the sense of self through affective state accumulation.