title: Self-representation and brain development.
abstract: This study examined the relation between self-representation and brain development in infants and young children. Self-representation was assessed by mirror recognition, personal pronoun use, and pretend play. Structural brain images were obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain development was assessed by a quantitative measure of maturation of the temporo-parietal junction, temporal pole, medial frontal cortex, and occipital cortex. Fifteen children (15 to 30 months of age; 3 girls) without MRI abnormalities were assessed. Only maturation of the left temporo-parietal junction was related to self-representation after controlling for age. These findings provide some evidence that brain maturation is related to the emergence of a representation of self in the human child.
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Study of Child Development, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0019, USA. lewis@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Carmody
mesh_terms: D001828:Body Image; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000254:growth & development; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012649:Self Concept; D012660:Semantics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000254:growth & development