Linking bodily, environmental and mental states in the self-A three-level model based on a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Psychology

Background:

• The self is understood to integrate internal bodily and external environmental information.
• The precise neural mechanisms for this integration remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and investigate a neural model for self-processing.
• To delineate the brain regions involved in integrating self-related information across different levels.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analyses.
• Analyzed neuroimaging studies focusing on self-processing.

Main Results:

• Identified the insula as a common region for all three processing levels (Interoceptive, Exteroceptive, Mental-self).
• Found shared activity in the anteromedial prefrontal cortex (AMPFC) and temporal parietal junction (TPJ) for Exteroceptive and Mental-self processing.
• Observed extensive involvement of cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex in Mental-self processing.

Conclusions:

• Proposed a gradient organization of self-processing in the brain.
• Information integration for the self occurs via propagation from Interoceptive to Mental-self processing levels.