Neuroimaging the consciousness of self: Review, and conceptual-methodological framework

Authors

Paul Frewen, The University of Western Ontario
Matthias L. Schroeter, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig und Medizinische Fakultät
Giuseppe Riva, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano
Pietro Cipresso, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano
Beth Fairfield, University of G. d'Annunzio Chieti and Pescara
Caterina Padulo, University of G. d'Annunzio Chieti and Pescara
Andrew Haddon Kemp, Swansea University
Lena Palaniyappan, Robarts Research InstituteFollow
Mayowa Owolabi, University of Ibadan
Kwabena Kusi-Mensah, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
Maryna Polyakova, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Nick Fehertoi, The New School
Wendy D'Andrea, The New School
Leroy Lowe, Neuroqualia (NGO)
Georg Northoff, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2020

Journal

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Volume

112

First Page

164

Last Page

212

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.023

Abstract

We review neuroimaging research investigating self-referential processing (SRP), that is, how we respond to stimuli that reference ourselves, prefaced by a lexical-thematic analysis of words indicative of “self-feelings”. We consider SRP as occurring verbally (V-SRP) and non-verbally (NV-SRP), both in the controlled, “top-down” form of introspective and interoceptive tasks, respectively, as well as in the “bottom-up” spontaneous or automatic form of “mind wandering” and “body wandering” that occurs during resting state. Our review leads us to outline a conceptual and methodological framework for future SRP research that we briefly apply toward understanding certain psychological and neurological disorders symptomatically associated with abnormal SRP. Our discussion is partly guided by William James’ original writings on the consciousness of self.