Sharing self-related information is associated with intrinsic functional connectivity of cortical midline brain regions.

Dar Meshi,Daniel S Margulies,Evgeniya Kirilina,Carmen Morawetz,Hauke R Heekeren,Loreen Mamerow

doi:10.1038/srep22491

Abstract

Human beings are social animals and they vary in the degree to which they share information about themselves with others. Although brain networks involved in self-related cognition have been identified, especially via the use of resting-state experiments, the neural circuitry underlying individual differences in the sharing of self-related information is currently unknown. Therefore, we investigated the intrinsic functional organization of the brain with respect to participants’ degree of self-related information sharing using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging and self-reported social media use. We conducted seed-based correlation analyses in cortical midline regions previously shown in meta-analyses to be involved in self-referential cognition: the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), central precuneus (CP), and caudal anterior cingulate cortex (CACC). We examined whether and how functional connectivity between these regions and the rest of the brain was associated with participants’ degree of self-related information sharing. Analyses revealed associations between the MPFC and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), as well as the CP with the right DLPFC, the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex and left anterior temporal pole. These findings extend our present knowledge of functional brain connectivity, specifically demonstrating how the brain’s intrinsic functional organization relates to individual differences in the sharing of self-related information.

Highlights

In contrast to the above-mentioned comprehensive theoretical concepts and behavioral findings, research into the neurocognitive processes related to sharing self-related information has been limited
To examine individual differences in the network underlying self-related information sharing, we collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and conducted exploratory analyses focused on three key cortical midline regions, mentioned above, which had previously been associated with self-referential cognition, the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), central precuneus (CP) and CACC15
We examined whether and how individual differences in the sharing of self-related information on social media are associated with intrinsic functional brain organization

Summary

Introduction

In contrast to the above-mentioned comprehensive theoretical concepts and behavioral findings, research into the neurocognitive processes related to sharing self-related information has been limited. To examine individual differences in the network underlying self-related information sharing, we collected resting-state fMRI and conducted exploratory analyses focused on three key cortical midline regions, mentioned above, which had previously been associated with self-referential cognition, the MPFC, CP and CACC15. Social cognition, such as mentalizing, engages both the MPFC and CP, as well as the temporoparietal junction and temporal poles, as demonstrated by recent meta-analyses[23,24]; reward-related processing regarding the sharing of self-related information involves the MPFC and the ventral striatum[3]; and executive functioning, such as working memory, engages the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ACC, and other prefrontal regions, demonstrated by recent meta-analyses[25,26] These regions are candidates for demonstrating individual differences in intrinsic functional connectivity with cortical midline regions with reference to the amount of self-related sharing of an individual. This was accomplished by using an established questionnaire concerning self-related sharing behavior on Facebook[28]

Methods

Results

Conclusion