Neuroimaging the consciousness of self: Review, and conceptual-methodological framework. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Frewen, Paul; Schroeter, Matthias L.; Riva, Giuseppe; Cipresso, Pietro; Fairfield, Beth; Padulo, Caterina; Kemp, Andrew Haddon; Palaniyappan, Lena; Owolabi, Mayowa; Kusi-Mensah, Kwabena; Polyakova, Maryna; Fehertoi, Nick; D'Andrea, Wendy; Lowe, Leroy; Northoff, Georg
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 112(2020)
• Page Start: 164
• Page End: 212
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Self-referential processing -- Introspection -- Interoception -- Resting state; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Neuroimaging studies of Self-Referential Processing (SRP) are reviewed. Verbal (introspective, semantic) SRP is compared with Non-Verbal SRP (interoceptive, somatic)- Active (Task-based) SRP is compared with Passive (Off-task) SRP during resting state. A conceptual and methodological framework for studying SRP occurring during foreground introspective and interoceptive tasks vs. during background resting state is described. Psychological and Neurological Disorders of SRP are reviewed. Abstract: 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.