Neuroimaging the consciousness of self: Review, and conceptual-methodological framework.

Journal: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews

Volume: 112

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: pfrewen@uwo.ca. Neurology Department, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences & Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Germany. Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab., Istituto Auxologico Italiano, , Milan, Italy; Center for Communication Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, , Milan, Italy. Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University of Chieti, Italy. Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Robarts Research Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Department of Psychiatry, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. Neurology Department, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. The New School for Social Research, New York, NY, United States. Neuroqualia (NGO), Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, Canada.

Abstract summary 

We review neuroimaging research investigating self-referential processing (SRP), that is, how we respond to stimuli that reference ourselves, prefaced by a lexical-thematic analysis of words indicative of "self-feelings". We consider SRP as occurring verbally (V-SRP) and non-verbally (NV-SRP), both in the controlled, "top-down" form of introspective and interoceptive tasks, respectively, as well as in the "bottom-up" spontaneous or automatic form of "mind wandering" and "body wandering" that occurs during resting state. Our review leads us to outline a conceptual and methodological framework for future SRP research that we briefly apply toward understanding certain psychological and neurological disorders symptomatically associated with abnormal SRP. Our discussion is partly guided by William James' original writings on the consciousness of self.

Authors & Co-authors:  Frewen Paul P Schroeter Matthias L ML Riva Giuseppe G Cipresso Pietro P Fairfield Beth B Padulo Caterina C Kemp Andrew Haddon AH Palaniyappan Lena L Owolabi Mayowa M Kusi-Mensah Kwabena K Polyakova Maryna M Fehertoi Nick N D'Andrea Wendy W Lowe Leroy L Northoff Georg G

Study Outcome 

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Citations : 
Authors :  15
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.023
SSN : 1873-7528
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Brain
Other Terms
Interoception;Introspection;Resting state;Self-referential processing
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States