Me, Myself, and I: Neural Activity for Self versus Other across Development
Paola Zanchi1, Jean-Baptiste Ledoux1,2, Eleonora Fornari1,2
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 23, 2023
Summary
Neural activity for self-vs.-other perception develops gradually through childhood and adolescence. A critical period exists where self and other processing overlap, impacting social learning. This research explores brain development in social cognition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Cognition
Background:
- Self-vs.-other perception differs between children and adults.
- A developmental neural perspective on this discrimination is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine neural activation for self-vs.-other perception across different age groups.
- To identify developmental trajectories in brain regions supporting social cognition.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure neural activation.
- Participants included 39 individuals across four age groups (4-year-olds to adults).
- Stimuli focused on self-related and other-related (unknown peer) social cues.
Main Results:
- Self-related stimuli activated regions involved in self-referential thought and empathy.
- Other-related stimuli activated broader regions including those for multisensory processing, language, and theory of mind.
- Neural activation generally increased with age, but non-linear patterns emerged in specific regions for 7-10-year-olds and 11-19-year-olds, indicating overlapping or reduced self-other distinctions.
Conclusions:
- Self-vs.-other discrimination shows a gradual developmental increase in neural activation.
- A critical developmental period (7-10 years) exists where self and other perception processing is similar.
- Reduced neural distinction between self and others in adolescents suggests implications for social learning strategies.
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