Abstract
Self-referential processing refers to the processing of information relevant to oneself and plays an important role in cognition. Behavioral studies have shown that directional cue stimuli have a qualitatively different function during attentional orienting after presentation of the cue associated with the self. However, it is necessary to determine how neural activity is influenced by self-referential processing during attentional orienting. The present study involved establishing an association between non-predictive arrow cues and the “self” during a training task and then investigating the influence of self-referential processing on neural activity during attentional orienting. Enhanced neural activity was observed in cortical midline structures (CMS) during the use of self- vs. neutral-arrow cues, which suggests that the arrow associated with the “self” triggered self-referential processing during attentional orienting due to the experiences of the participant in the training task. Comparison of obtained under the incongruent and congruent conditions revealed a qualitative difference in neural activities between the self- and neutral-arrow cues associated with attentional orienting. Furthermore, when the neutral-arrow cue was treated as a baseline condition, neural activity was reduced in the frontoparietal attention networks by self-referential processing under the incongruent condition, but it was enhanced under the congruent condition. Thus, the stimulus modulated subsequent attentional neural processes after being associated with the self as a cue, which indicates that this process may be triggered by self-reference to automatically and effectively capture information. Our findings extend those of previous behavioral studies of neural activity, suggesting that directional cues were qualitatively influenced by self-referential processing, and showed different functions during attentional orienting. Moreover, the present study provides important evidence of how self-referential processing affects attentional orienting in the frontoparietal network.Highlights -Enhanced activity was observed in CMS due to self-referential processing.-The influence of self-referential processing differed in the frontoparietal network.-Activity was enhanced by self-referential processing under the congruent condition.-Activity was reduced by self-referential processing under the incongruent condition.
Highlights
Humans commonly exhibit biased responses such that they preferentially encode information relevant to themselves compared to information relevant to others (e.g., Rogers et al, 1977; Keyes and Brady, 2010; Keyes, 2012; Nakao et al, 2012)
Because enhanced neural activity of cortical midline structures (CMSs) was observed with the use of self- vs. neutral-arrow cues in the attentional cueing task, we proposed that the arrow associated with ‘‘self’’ may trigger self-referential processing during attentional orienting due to the experiences of the participant in the training task
regions of interest (ROIs) Analysis Because the present study focused on the manner in which attentional orienting was influenced by self-referential processing based on activity in the dorsal and ventral frontoparietal networks, the results of the interactions in the bilateral SPL and right TPJ were further assessed using an ROI-based analysis
Summary
Humans commonly exhibit biased responses such that they preferentially encode information relevant to themselves compared to information relevant to others (e.g., Rogers et al, 1977; Keyes and Brady, 2010; Keyes, 2012; Nakao et al, 2012). More recent studies have reported the faster classification of self-faces compared to the faces of other people when participants were asked to classify faces as self, friend, or stranger (Keyes and Brady, 2010; Keyes, 2012). This phenomenon is known as the self-referential effect and has been observed in children and young and older adults (e.g., Sui and Zhu, 2005; Gutchess et al, 2007, 2010, 2015; Cunningham et al, 2014). It is important to understand the mechanisms underlying the manner in which self-reference influences subsequent stages of information processing
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
