Self-Referential Processing Effects of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Non-invasive Brain Stimulation

Background:

• Neuroimaging studies identify cortical midline structures, temporoparietal cortex, and insula activity during self-referential processing (SRP).
• The causal modulation of SRP using non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) remains an area of active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on NIBS applied to task-based SRP.
• To compare the effects of NIBS on verbal versus non-verbal SRP tasks.
• To identify brain regions causally modulated by NIBS for different types of SRP.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 studies investigating NIBS and SRP.
• Comparison of NIBS effects across studies employing verbal and non-verbal SRP tasks.
• Analysis of varied study designs, experimental tasks, and stimulation parameters.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports the involvement of the left inferior parietal lobule (left IPL) in verbal SRP.
• Medial prefrontal cortex activation was noted for verbal SRP with valenced stimuli.
• Non-verbal SRP (bodily self-consciousness) implicated bilateral parietal lobe, sensorimotor areas, and insula.

Conclusions:

• NIBS can causally modulate both verbal and non-verbal aspects of self-referential processing.
• Targeting specific brain regions with NIBS may differentially modulate verbal and non-verbal SRP.
• Findings highlight the potential of NIBS for understanding and influencing self-referential cognition.