Degrees of separation: a quantitative neuroimaging meta-analysis investigating self-specificity and shared neural activation between self- and other-reflection.
In functional neuroimaging studies, self-specificity has been investigated by contrasting other-relevant processing against the self. Our meta-analysis investigates self-specificity with respect to degrees of self-relatedness (SR) of the other (i.e. close and public other). Literature suggests a dorsal-ventral component of self- and other-reflection within the MPFC, which has yet to be analyzed according to varying SR, nor has it been quantified statistically. In the present meta-analysis, we pursued three main objectives. First, we conducted whole-brain ALE meta-analyses using contemporary literature analyzing self>close other and self>public other contrasts to determine self-specific regions sensitive to SR. Next, we conducted ALE and conjunction analyses of studies employing self>control, close other>control, or public other>control contrasts to determine shared regions of activation. Third, we conducted post hoc analyses to quantify any observed dorsal-ventral distinction, employing novel methodology using a surface-based coordinates system. We observed significant activation in the dACC and vACC for self>close other and self>public other, whereas anterior insula was observed only for self>public other. An MPFC dorsal-ventral distinction was observed and quantified whereby public other>control was significantly more dorsal than self>control and close other>control. Our results are discussed with regards to SR. Prospective avenues of research exploiting our methodology are proposed.
Adolescence Clinical Psychology Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. ryanmurray05@fulbrightmail.org
Ryan J
RJ
Murray
Marie
M
Schaer
Martin
M
Debbané
D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept