Neural circuits associated with positive and negative self-appraisal.
A B Brühl1, M Rufer2, T Kaffenberger3
1Department for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH 8032 Zürich, Switzerland.
Neuroscience
|February 8, 2014
Summary
This study shows that positive self-appraisals activate emotion centers more than negative ones. Negative self-appraisals, however, more strongly influence perception, offering insights into psychiatric disorders and psychotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Self-worth is significantly impacted by self-appraisal, which is often negatively biased in psychiatric disorders.
- Self-appraisals influence emotional states and can trigger defensive reactions when incongruent with one's current state.
- Previous research primarily utilized externally provided evaluative appraisals, not individual self-appraisals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of individual positive and negative self-appraisals using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- To examine the effects of self-appraisals on the subsequent perception of one's own photograph.
- To compare brain activation patterns between positive and negative self-appraisal conditions.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed with 30 subjects.
- Subjects engaged in individual positive and negative self-appraisals.
- The impact of self-appraisals on the subsequent perception of personal photographs was assessed.
Main Results:
- Both positive and negative self-appraisals activated the dorsomedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to a neutral condition.
- Positive self-appraisal showed greater activation in the amygdala, ventral striatum, and anterior cingulate cortex than negative self-appraisal.
- Negative self-appraisal led to increased activity in occipital regions and enhanced activity in the anterior insula and parietal regions during photo perception.
- Positive self-appraisal did not affect self-photo perception, while negative appraisal did.
Conclusions:
- Positive self-appraisals engage more emotion-related brain regions, whereas negative self-appraisals have a stronger influence on perception-related brain activity.
- Findings may explain the real-world behavioral effects of negative self-appraisal.
- Results support a greater therapeutic emphasis on enhancing positive self-appraisals in psychotherapy.
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