Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 15, 2025
06:42
Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
11.9K
Self-Positivity or Self-Negativity as a Function of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex
1Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UK.
Brain Sciences
|March 6, 2021
Summary
The medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) links self-relevance with positive emotions, but not negative ones. This finding sheds light on neural mechanisms underlying motivation for well-being and mental health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Self and emotions are critical motivators for health and well-being.
- Understanding their neural basis is vital for addressing mental health disorders.
- The medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is implicated in processing both self-relevant and emotional information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms within the MPFC that link self-related processing with positive and negative emotions.
- To determine if the MPFC differentiates between self-prioritization and emotion-prioritization effects.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to collect brain activity data.
- Participants completed associative matching tasks involving personal (self, friend, stranger) and emotional (happy, sad, neutral) stimuli.
- Region of interest (ROI) and seed-to-voxel functional connectivity analyses were performed on the MPFC.
Main Results:
- The ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) showed prioritization for self-relevance but not for negative emotions.
- Brain activity did not differ between positive emotion prioritization and self-prioritization.
- Functional connectivity analyses supported the link between MPFC activity, self-relevance, and positive emotions.
Conclusions:
- Prioritization effects for self and positive emotions are closely interconnected within the MPFC.
- The MPFC plays a significant role in distinguishing between positive and negative emotions concerning self-relevance.
- These findings offer insights into the neural underpinnings of motivation and well-being.
More Related Videos
09:00Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Published on: April 15, 2015
12.6K
09:14Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: March 14, 2025
589
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.6K
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...
5.6K
01:28Understanding the Self
113
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...
113
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
42.5K
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about...
42.5K
01:17Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification
70
Self-verification is a fundamental psychological drive wherein individuals seek affirmation of their self-concept from others, striving for consistency between their internal self-view and external perceptions. This drive operates even when the self-concept is negative, influencing interpersonal behavior and feedback preferences in complex and often counterintuitive ways. Unlike the self-enhancement motive, which seeks positive evaluations, self-verification prioritizes coherence and...
70
01:24Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
81
Self-monitoring is a central construct in understanding individual differences in self-presentation strategies across social contexts. It refers to how individuals observe, regulate, and control their expressive behavior and self-presentation following situational cues. Self-monitoring reflects a person's sensitivity to social appropriateness and willingness to adapt behavior to fit varying interpersonal demands.High vs. Low Self-Monitoring IndividualsIndividuals high in self-monitoring are...
81
01:29Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
131
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...
131