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Neural correlates of the self-reference effect: evidence from evaluation and recognition processes
Ken Yaoi1, Mariko Osaka2, Naoyuki Osaka1
1Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|July 14, 2015
Summary
The self-reference effect (SRE) shows that information related to oneself is better remembered. Neuroimaging reveals distinct brain activity in self-related regions during memory recall, supporting stronger memory traces for self-referenced information.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The self-reference effect (SRE) improves memory for self-related information.
- Previous neuroimaging studies show overlapping medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) activation for self- and other-referential tasks.
- A direct neural comparison for SRE during recall is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural basis of the self-reference effect.
- To directly compare brain activation for self- versus other-referenced word recognition.
- To identify brain regions associated with enhanced memory for self-relevant information.
Main Methods:
- Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- Participants engaged in self-referential and other-referential judgment tasks.
- Brain activity was measured during word processing and recognition.
Main Results:
- The self-referential condition showed greater activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC).
- During recognition, VMPFC, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and bilateral angular gyrus (AG) were more active for correctly recognized self-referenced words.
- Self-referenced words resulted in greater activation in self-related (VMPFC) and memory-related (PCC, AG) regions.
Conclusions:
- VMPFC is a key region for self-referential processing.
- PCC and AG are involved in enhanced memory retrieval of self-referenced information.
- Self-referenced words create stronger memory traces, facilitating recognition.
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