title: Neural activity associated with self-reflection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-referential cognitions are important for self-monitoring and self-regulation. Previous studies have addressed the neural correlates of self-referential processes in response to or related to external stimuli. We here investigated brain activity associated with a short, exclusively mental process of self-reflection in the absence of external stimuli or behavioural requirements. Healthy subjects reflected either on themselves, a personally known or an unknown person during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The reflection period was initialized by a cue and followed by photographs of the respective persons (perception of pictures of oneself or the other person).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-reflection, compared with reflecting on the other persons and to a major part also compared with perceiving photographs of one-self, was associated with more prominent dorsomedial and lateral prefrontal, insular, anterior and posterior cingulate activations. Whereas some of these areas showed activity in the "other"-conditions as well, self-selective characteristics were revealed in right dorsolateral prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortex for self-reflection; in anterior cingulate cortex for self-perception and in the left inferior parietal lobe for self-reflection and -perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Altogether, cingulate, medial and lateral prefrontal, insular and inferior parietal regions show relevance for self-related cognitions, with in part self-specificity in terms of comparison with the known-, unknown- and perception-conditions. Notably, the results are obtained here without behavioural response supporting the reliability of this methodological approach of applying a solely mental intervention. We suggest considering the reported structures when investigating psychopathologically affected self-related processing.
authors.affiliation: Department for Social and General Psychiatry Zurich West, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Herwig
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaffenberger
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schell
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jäncke
authors.forename: Annette B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Brühl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012649:Self Concept; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen