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Neuroscience
Author(s) -
Régine Kolinsky,
Ana Franco,
Isabel Cristina de Moura Leite,
Cristina Carvalho,
Tânia Fernandes,
Axelle Calcus,
José Morais
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1002/ijop.12335
Subject(s) - psychology , neuroscience , cognitive science
Media content matters in social contexts, especially for adolescents who socialize largely with their peers in media(ted) environments. This is well-exemplified by body image development being influenced by media's thin body-ideal and peer influences. This study investigated peer feedback and media imagery interactions through analyzing brain activity using fMRI. Such neural measures complement self-report measures and reveal mechanisms that are unapparent otherwise. Girls (18–19 years-old, N = 24) were exposed to 30 thin and 30 average-sized media models while in an MRI-scanner. They rated each model as 'too thin' or 'normal', followed by congruent or incongruent peer feedback. Results showed increased activity in the ACC and insula in incongruent situations (e.g., participant: 'normal-weight'; feedback: 'too thin'), especially for those with lower self-esteem. This increased activity occurred in brain centers that become active in uncertain situations (e.g., when social norms are exceeded), indicating that media-based feedback directly influenced brain responses to deviating norms