Medial prefrontal cortex subserves diverse forms of self-reflection

Abstract

The ability to think about oneself—to self-reflect—is one of the defining features of the human mind. Recent research has suggested that this ability may be subserved by a particular brain region: the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). However, although humans can contemplate a variety of different aspects of themselves, including their stable personality traits, current feelings, and physical attributes, no research has directly examined the extent to which these different forms of self-reflection are subserved by common mechanisms. To address this question, participants were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while making judgments about their own personality traits, current mental states, and physical attributes as well as those of another person. Whereas some brain regions responded preferentially during only one form of self-reflection, a robust region of MPFC was engaged preferentially during self-reflection across all three types of judgment. These results suggest that—although dissociable—diverse forms of self-referential thought draw on a shared cognitive process subserved by MPFC.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Daniel L. Ames, Josh Greene, Andrea Heberlein, Dave Johnson, Matt Killingsworth, Lindsey Powell, Rebecca Saxe, and Diana Tamir for advice and assistance. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (BCS 0642448). Data were collected at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, which is supported by the National Center for Research Resources (P41 RR14075) and the MIND Institute.