Open AccessDoes medial prefrontal cortex activity during self‐knowledge reference reflect the uniqueness of self‐knowledge? 1
Author(s) -
NAKAO TAKASHI,
MIYATANI MAKOTO,
NAKAO MIZUKI,
TAKEZAWA TOMOHIRO,
MARUISHI MASAHARU,
MURANAKA HIROYUKI,
DOJO HIROFUMI
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
japanese psychological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5884
pISSN - 0021-5368
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5884.2009.00390.x
Subject(s) - self reference effect , prefrontal cortex , psychology , self reference , neural activity , functional magnetic resonance imaging , word (group theory) , cognitive psychology , cognition , computer science , consumer neuroscience , neuroscience , mathematics , geometry , programming language
For this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine whether medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) activity during self‐knowledge reference reflects the uniqueness of self‐knowledge. Experiment 1 investigated neural activity during self‐knowledge reference (“Does the word describe you?”) and self‐monitoring (“Does the word make you feel pleasant?”). The results showed that self‐knowledge reference and self‐monitoring activate common neural substrates within the MPFC. Experiment 2 compared neural activity produced by self‐knowledge reference, other‐knowledge (acquaintance‐knowledge) reference (“Does this word describe the person?”), and evaluation (“Is this word socially desirable?”). Results showed no increase in MPFC activity during self‐knowledge reference relative to other‐knowledge reference. Furthermore, self‐knowledge reference and other‐knowledge reference share common neural substrates within the MPFC. The results described indicate that it is unlikely that MPFC activity during self‐knowledge reference reflects the uniqueness of self‐knowledge. The feature, as reflected in MPFC activity, is discussed.