title: Electrophysiological correlates of implicit valenced self-processing in high vs. low self-esteem individuals.
abstract: We provide the first high-temporal resolution account of the self-esteem implicit association test (IAT; Greenwald & Farnham, 2000) to highlight important similarities and differences between the cognitive processes corresponding to implicit valenced self-processing in high vs. low self-esteem individuals. We divided individuals into high and low self-esteem groups based on the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965) and administered the self-esteem IAT while recording electroencephalographic data. We show that the P2 captured group (high vs. low self-esteem) differences, the N250 and the late parietal positivity (LPP) captured differences corresponding to category pairing (self/positive vs. self/negative pairing), and the N1, P2, and P300-400 components captured interactions between self-esteem groups and whether the self was paired with positive or negative categories in the IAT. Overall, both high and low self-esteem groups were sensitive to the distinction between positive and negative information in relation to the self (me/negative generally displayed larger event-related potential amplitudes than me/positive), but for high self-esteem individuals, this difference was generally larger, earlier, and most pronounced over left-hemisphere electrodes. These electrophysiological differences may reflect differences in attentional resources devoted to teasing apart these two oppositely valenced associations. High self-esteem individuals appear to devote more automatic (early) attentional resources to strengthen the distinction between positively or negatively valenced information in relation to the self.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour , McMaster University , Hamilton , Canada.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grundy
authors.forename: Miriam F F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Benarroch
authors.forename: A Nicole
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Lebarr
authors.forename: Judith M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shedden
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: N1; N250; P2; P3/LPP complex; Self-esteem IAT