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Temporal continuity of self: Long autocorrelation windows mediate self-specificity
David Smith1, Annemarie Wolff2, Angelika Wolman2
1Department of Cognitive Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada; Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, University of Ottawa, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7K4, Canada.
Neuroimage
|May 14, 2022
Summary
Neural activity
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- The self has an intrinsic temporal component, reflected in neural timescales.
- Resting-state neural autocorrelation windows (ACW) correlate with self-consciousness.
- Task-related changes in ACW for self vs. non-self activities are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate task-related changes in neural autocorrelation windows (ACW).
- To compare ACW during self-specific vs. non-self-specific cognitive tasks.
- To explore the neural basis of temporal continuity in self-representation.
Main Methods:
- Participants recorded autobiographical narratives.
- EEG recordings during rest, self-narrative, and non-self-narrative conditions.
- Behavioral assessment of narrative positivity/negativity using a cursor.
Main Results:
- Behavioral cursor movement showed greater extension and velocity for self-narratives.
- Neural ACWs were longer for self-narratives compared to non-self-narratives and rest.
- These findings link longer temporal windows in neural activity to self-specificity.
Conclusions:
- Longer neural temporal windows (ACW) are crucial for self-specific processing.
- Temporal continuity is a fundamental aspect of the self at both neural and psychological levels.
- Neural temporal continuity may serve as a common ground between the brain and the psychological self.
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