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Self-development: integrating cognitive, socioemotional, and neuroimaging perspectives
Jennifer H Pfeifer1, Shannon J Peake
1Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1227, United States. jpfeifer@uoregon.edu
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
|June 12, 2012
Summary
Self-development involves cognitive and socioemotional processes, supported by distinct brain regions. Neuroimaging reveals key areas for personal and social identity, with atypical function in autism and depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Self-development integrates cognitive, socioemotional, and neuroimaging findings.
- Understanding personal and social identity is crucial for development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neural correlates of self-development across the lifespan.
- To explore brain regions involved in personal and social identity.
- To examine atypical brain function in autism and depression related to self-identity.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of cognitive, socioemotional, and neuroimaging studies.
- Analysis of neural correlates for autobiographical memory, self-appraisals, and social exclusion.
- Comparison of findings across children, adolescents, and adults.
Main Results:
- Cortical midline structures (medial prefrontal and posterior parietal cortex) are key for cognitive self-identity.
- Socioemotional identity involves additional regions (temporoparietal junction, temporal poles, insula, striatum, cingulate cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex).
- These regions are implicated in mentalizing, emotion, and emotion regulation.
Conclusions:
- Self-development is underpinned by a network of brain regions supporting cognitive and socioemotional processes.
- Atypical activation patterns in these regions are observed in autism (hypoactivation) and depression (hyperactivation).
- Mentalizing, emotion, and emotion regulation are central to understanding self-development and its disorders.
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