title: Neural systems for reflected and direct self-appraisals in Chinese young adults: Exploring the role of the temporal-parietal junction.
abstract: Although cortical midline structures (CMS) are the most commonly identified neural foundations of self-appraisals, research is beginning to implicate the temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) in more interdependent self-construals. The goal of this study was to extend this research in an understudied population by (a) examining both direct (first-person) and reflected (third-person) self-appraisals across 2 domains (social and academics), and (b) exploring individual differences in recruitment of the TPJ during reflected self-appraisals.
  
  
  
  The neural correlates of direct and reflected self-appraisals in social and academic domains were examined in 16 Chinese young adults (8 males, 8 females; aged 18-23 years) using functional MRI.
  
  
  
  As expected, when making reflected self-appraisals (i.e., reporting what they believed others thought about them, regardless of domain), Chinese participants recruited both CMSs and the TPJ. Similar to previous research in East Asian and interdependent samples, CMSs and the TPJ were relatively more active during direct self-appraisals in the social than in the academic domain. We additionally found that, to the extent participants reported that reflected academic self-appraisals differed from direct academic self-appraisals, they demonstrated greater engagement of the TPJ during reflected academic self-appraisals. Exploratory cross-national comparisons with previously published data from American participants revealed that Chinese young adults engaged the TPJ relatively more during reflected self-appraisals made from peer perspectives.
  
  
  
  In combination with previous research, these findings increase support for a role of the TPJ in self-appraisal processes, particularly when Chinese young adults consider peer perspectives. The possible functional contributions provided by the TPJ are explored and discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oregon.
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brock University.
authors.forename: Caitlin E V
authors.initials: CEV
authors.lastname: Mahy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oregon.
authors.forename: Junaid S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University.
authors.forename: Chunhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Masten
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fuligni
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New York at Buffalo.
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lessard
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine.
authors.forename: Chuansheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult