Psychology Lecture 8

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Questions and Answers

What characterizes an Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) compared to Autoscopy?

OBEs involve a change in felt self-location. (correct)

Autoscopy always changes the individual's perception of body position.

Both OBEs and Autoscopy provide an identical sense of self-location.

OBEs do not include visual-spatial representations of the bodily self.

Which type of integration is primarily affected in OBEs and Autoscopy according to Blanke et al. (2004)?

Integration between emotional signals and personal space.

Integration between auditory signals and extrapersonal space.

Integration between proprioceptive and body-related visual information. (correct)

Integration between smells and body-related information.

What brain area is primarily implicated in the disintegration of personal and extrapersonal space during OBEs?

Cerebellum.

Frontal lobe.

Occipital lobe.

Temporoparietal junction (TPJ). (correct)

How can OBEs be experimentally induced according to the research mentioned?

Through vestibular stimulation and TPJ stimulation. Signup and view all the answers

What brain region is primarily associated with the 'core self' in self-referential processing?

Medial PFC Signup and view all the answers

What role does the vestibular system play in self-awareness?

It provides absolute gravitational reference for body signal integration. Signup and view all the answers

Which network is predominantly active when individuals engage in daydreaming or mind-wandering?

Default Mode Network Signup and view all the answers

How does self-referential processing become disrupted in major depressive disorder?

Excessive mPFC activity Signup and view all the answers

Which type of self-representation is processed in amodal regions of the brain?

Mental/Narrative self Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Mirror Neuron System according to the content?

To predict actions and sensations of self and others Signup and view all the answers

What primarily distinguishes the physical attributes of the self from the mental attributes?

Physical attributes include experiences related to bodily presence. Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a hallmark of self-awareness in the context of self-identification?

The ability to recognize one’s own face in the mirror Signup and view all the answers

Which model of self-awareness emphasizes the sense of oneself as an observer of experiences?

Mental/narrative self Signup and view all the answers

According to findings on self-face advantages, how does the self-face recognition compare to familiar other faces?

Self-face recognition is faster and more accurate than familiar other faces. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the nature of self as an illusory construction?

The feeling of being a unified self remains stable despite ongoing physical changes. Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to as 'enfacement illusion' in the context of self-identification?

Greater identification with a stranger’s face after synchronous visual-tactile stimulation. Signup and view all the answers

According to the discussion about self-representation, what is meant by the 'minimal' self?

The foundational physical sense of self as the immediate subject of experience. Signup and view all the answers

Which brain areas show increased activity for self-face recognition according to Morita et al. (2008)?

Bilateral occipital cortices extending to inferior temporal and fusiform regions Signup and view all the answers

In what way does the egocentric perspective of the self typically function?

It anchors the self's perception within the confines of the body. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason for the self-face advantage according to Bortolon & Raffard (2018)?

Over-familiarization with one’s own face leading to stronger mental representation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture 8 - The Self

What makes a self?
- Physical attributes ("I")
  - Appearance
  - Feelings
  - Perceived location
  - Abilities
- Mental attributes ("Me")
  - Memories (autobiographical)
  - Personality traits
  - Cognitive/emotional skills & abilities
  - Self-knowledge
  - Values, tastes, and biases
- Social attributes
  - Could we develop the same selves in isolation or different social contexts?
  - We affect others and are affected by the world
  - Self-enlargement or reduction through others

Psychological Models of the Self

Models distinguish physical (embodied) and mental (abstract/narrative/psychological) self-awareness
- Physical/embodied: feeling of self as the physical subject of experience
- Mental/narrative: feeling of self as the observer of one's experiences

The Self as an Illusory Construction

The brain constructs a unified feeling of 'self'
- A "me" as a person with memories, traits, values, etc., acting as an "i," a bodily agent in the world
- Continuity in time held together by memory
- Memory may be biased in favor of consistency
The 'minimal self'
- Foundation of the physical sense of self
- Embodied feeling of being an "I" in the moment
- Sense of being a self in a body that perceives, feels, and acts

Location of Self

Physical self
- Self-location relative to the world or other people
- First-person perspective - how one perceives the world
- Self-identification, body ownership

Representations of the self

There are not one, but several different levels of self-representation
- Social self
- Mental / abstract self (extended self - “me” over time)
- Mentalising/ Theory of Mind/ Empathy
- Psychological self/ memory/ traits
- Sense of agency (actions & effects)
- Physical self
- Minimal/ core self
- Localisation within a body & self-identification
- Mental/ narrative self
  - Feeling of self as a continuous observer through time
  - Stable experience of being a self
  - Autobiographical memory
  - Self-knowledge and skills
  - Preferences and values

Self-referential Processing

Deciding if a personality trait is true for oneself versus another person
Retrieving and assembling memories related to the self
Self-referential processing activates the Default mode network (DMN) & related regions (mPFC/ACC).

Self-face Advantage

Faster and more accurate responses to self-face than other faces
Robust effect in various conditions
Depends on cultural background

SFA in the Brain

Increased activity in bilateral occipital cortices and fusiform regions
Similar findings in other studies

Self-Face Processing

Supported by OFA/FFA (occipital-fusiform areas), but also others
- Premotor-parietal regions (IFG/insula & angular gyrus): body ownership regions
- ACC

Core Self

Medial PFC (part of DMN), ACC
Opposing activations depending on task (self-relevant vs. irrelevant).

Cognitive Control Network

Posterior STS, dorsolateral PFC
Brain networks that support a sense of self

Other-referential Processing

Information tagged as "other" activates fronto-parietal attentional control network/enhanced DLPFC
Suppresses self-related processing

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Description

Explore the intricate components that make up the self, including physical, mental, and social attributes. This lecture delves into psychological models of self-awareness and the concept of the self as an illusory construction. Understand how our experiences shape our sense of identity and the interplay between our internal and external worlds.

Psychology Lecture 8 - The Self

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