title: Self-reflection across time: cortical midline structures differentiate between present and past selves.
abstract: The processing of personal changes across time and the ability to differentiate between representations of present and past selves are crucial for developing a mature sense of identity. In this study, we explored the neural correlates of self-reflection across time using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). College undergraduates were asked to reflect on their own psychological characteristics and those of an intimate other, for both the present time period (i.e. at college) and a past time period (i.e. high school years) that involved significant personal changes. Cortical midline structures (CMS) were commonly recruited by the four reflective tasks (reflecting on the present self, past self, present other and past other), relative to a control condition (making valence judgments). More importantly, however, the degree of activity in CMS also varied significantly according to the target of reflection, with the ventral and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex being more recruited when reflecting on the present self than when reflecting on the past self or when reflecting on the other person. These findings suggest that CMS may contribute to differentiate between representations of present and past selves.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium. a.dargembeau@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Argembeau
authors.forename: Dorothée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feyers
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majerus
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Collette
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van der Linden
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maquet
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salmon
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003210:Concept Formation; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult