Individual Differences in Bodily Self-Consciousness and Its Neural Basis.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Bodily self-consciousness (BSC) involves awareness of bodily states.
• Individual differences in BSC are recognized but underlying factors and neural bases are under-explored.
• BSC integrates internal and external self-relevant information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing research on individual differences in BSC.
• To explore these differences through a three-level-self model: interoceptive, exteroceptive, and mental self-processing.
• To identify neural correlates associated with these individual differences.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on individual differences in BSC.
• Analysis through a three-level-self model (interoceptive, exteroceptive, mental).
• Examination of neural regions implicated in different levels of self-processing and their interactions.

Main Results:

• Cross-level factors significantly influence individual differences in BSC.
• Factors include bodily signal perceptibility, multisensory processing, personal traits, and interaction modes.
• Specific brain regions (e.g., ACC, insula, parietal lobe, mPFC, IPS) correlate with different aspects of BSC and its variations.

Conclusions:

• Diverse BSC experiences stem from variations in interoceptive, exteroceptive, and mental self-processing.
• These levels of self-processing moderate an individual's perception of their body.
• Acknowledging individual differences in BSC is vital for disease diagnosis and treatment strategies.