Is the self a higher-order or fundamental function of the brain? The “basis model of self-specificity” and its encoding by the brain’s spontaneous activity

Abstract

What is the self? This is a question that has long been discussed in (Western) philosophy where the self is traditionally conceived a higher-order function at the apex or pinnacle of all functions. This tradition has been transferred to recent neuroscience where the self is often considered to be a higher-order cognitive function reflected in memory and other high-level judgements. However, other lines of research demonstrate a close and intimate relationship between self-specificity and more basic functions like perceptions, emotions and reward. This paper focuses on the relationship between self-specificity and other basic functions relating to emotions, reward and perception. I propose the basis model that conceives self-specificity as a fundamental feature of the brain's spontaneous activity. This is supported by recent findings showing rest-self overlap in midline regions as well as findings demonstrating that the resting state can predict subsequent degrees of self-specificity. I conclude that such self-specificity in the brain's spontaneous activity may be central in linking the self to either internal or external stimuli. This may also provide the basis for coding the self as subject in relation to internal (i.e., self-consciousness) or external (i.e., phenomenal consciousness) mental events.

Keywords:

• Self
• Basis model
• Higher-order
• Cortical midline structures
• Spontaneous activity
• consciousness

I am grateful to reviewers and especially Glyn Humphreys as the editor of this issue for very helpful and constructive suggestions. I also want to thank Nils Wagner and Natsuho Obara for helpful comments on a prior draft as well as Wendy Carter for providing the references and the CIHR and EJLB-CIHR for providing financial assistance.

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

¹ A stimulus-evoked component associated with attention and stimulus saliency.