Self-referential belief shares common neural correlates with general belief
Belief processing and self-referential processing have been consistently associated with cortical midline structures, and cortical regions such as the vmPFC have been implicated in general belief processing. The neural correlates of self-referential belief are yet to be investigated. In this fMRI st...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
16 January 2025
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| In: |
Scientific reports
Year: 2025, Volume: 15, Pages: 1-12 |
| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-024-84445-6 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84445-6 Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-84445-6 
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| Author Notes: | Emily Bruns, Immanuel Scholz, Georgia Koppe, Peter Kirsch & Martin Fungisai Gerchen |
| Summary: | Belief processing and self-referential processing have been consistently associated with cortical midline structures, and cortical regions such as the vmPFC have been implicated in general belief processing. The neural correlates of self-referential belief are yet to be investigated. In this fMRI study, we presented 120 statements with trait adjectives to N = 27 healthy participants, who subsequently judged whether they believed these trait adjectives applied to themselves, a close person, or a public person. Thereafter, participants rated their certainty in this judgment. Expectedly, self-referential processing evoked a large cluster in the vmPFC, ACC, and dmPFC. For belief, we found a cluster in the vmPFC, ACC, and amPFC during statement presentation, partially overlapping with that for self-referential processing. The cluster for self-belief vs. disbelief was similar in location and size to that for general belief processing. For uncertainty, we found dmPFC activation. We replicated vmPFC involvement in belief processing and found a common neural correlate for belief and self-belief in the vmPFC. Furthermore, we replicated the role of the dmPFC in uncertainty, supporting a dual neural process model of belief and certainty. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 03.07.2025 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-024-84445-6 |