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Liddell BJ, Das P, Malhi GS, Jobson L, Lau W, Felmingham KL, Nickerson A, Askovic M, Aroche J, Coello M, Bryant RA. Self-construal modulates default mode network connectivity in refugees with PTSD. J Affect Disord 2024; 361:268-276. [PMID: 38866252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While self-construal and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are independently associated with altered self-referential processes and underlying default mode network (DMN) functioning, no study has examined how self-construal affects DMN connectivity in PTSD. METHODS A final sample of 93 refugee participants (48 with DSM-5 PTSD or sub-syndromal PTSD and 45 matched trauma-exposed controls) completed a 5-minute resting state fMRI scan to enable the observation of connectivity in the DMN and other core networks. A self-construal index was calculated by substracting scores on the collectivistic and individualistic sub-scales of the Self Construal Scale. RESULTS Independent components analysis identified 9 active networks-of-interest, and functional network connectivity was determined. A significant interaction effect between PTSD and self-construal index was observed in the anterior ventromedial DMN, with spatial maps localizing this to the left ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), extending to the ventral anterior cingulate cortex. This effect revealed that connectivity in the vMPFC showed greater reductions in those with PTSD with higher levels of collectivistic self-construal. LIMITATIONS This is an observational study and causality cannot be assumed. The specialized sample of refugees means that the findings may not generalize to other trauma-exposed populations. CONCLUSIONS Such a finding indicates that self-construal may shape the core neural architecture of PTSD, given that functional disruptions to the vmPFC underpin the core mechanisms of extinction learning, emotion dysregulation and self-referential processing in PTSD. Results have important implications for understanding the universality of neural disturbances in PTSD, and suggest that self-construal could be an important consideration in the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda J Liddell
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Australia; School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney, Australia.
| | - Pritha Das
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Australia; Academic Department of Psychiatry, Northern Sydney Local Health District, CADE Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Gin S Malhi
- Academic Department of Psychiatry, Northern Sydney Local Health District, CADE Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia; University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Winnie Lau
- Phoenix Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Mirjana Askovic
- NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), Sydney, Australia
| | - Jorge Aroche
- NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), Sydney, Australia
| | - Mariano Coello
- NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), Sydney, Australia
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2
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Xu J, Wainio-Theberge S, Wolff A, Qin P, Zhang Y, She X, Wang Y, Wolman A, Smith D, Ignaszewski J, Choueiry J, Knott V, Scalabrini A, Northoff G. Culture shapes spontaneous brain dynamics - Shared versus idiosyncratic neural features among Chinese versus Canadian subjects. Soc Neurosci 2023; 18:312-330. [PMID: 37909114 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2023.2278199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Environmental factors, such as culture, are known to shape individual variation in brain activity including spontaneous activity, but less is known about their population-level effects. Eastern and Western cultures differ strongly in their cultural norms about relationships between individuals. For example, the collectivism, interdependence and tightness of Eastern cultures relative to the individualism, independence and looseness of Western cultures, promote interpersonal connectedness and coordination. Do such cultural contexts therefore influence the group-level variability of their cultural members' spontaneous brain activity? Using novel methods adapted from studies of inter-subject neural synchrony, we compare the group-level variability of resting state EEG dynamics in Chinese and Canadian samples. We observe that Chinese subjects show significantly higher inter-subject correlation and lower inter-subject distance in their EEG power spectra than Canadian subjects, as well as lower variability in theta power and alpha peak frequency. We demonstrate, for the first time, different relationships among subjects' resting state brain dynamics in Chinese and Canadian samples. These results point to more idiosyncratic neural dynamics among Canadian participants, compared with more shared neural features in Chinese participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Xu
- Department of Philosophy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Soren Wainio-Theberge
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Annemarie Wolff
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pengmin Qin
- Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yihui Zhang
- Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuan She
- Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Institute of Psychological Sciences, College of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Angelika Wolman
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Smith
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia Ignaszewski
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joelle Choueiry
- Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Verner Knott
- Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea Scalabrini
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Georg Northoff
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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3
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El Ouardi L, Yeou M, Faroqi-Shah Y. Neural correlates of pronoun processing: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2023; 246:105347. [PMID: 37847932 PMCID: PMC11305457 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Pronouns are unique linguistic devices that allow for the expression of referential relationships. Despite their communicative utility, the neural correlates of the operations involved in reference assignment and/or resolution, are not well-understood. The present study synthesized the neuroimaging literature on pronoun processing to test extant theories of pronoun comprehension. Following the PRISMA guidelines and thebest-practice recommendations for neuroimaging meta-analyses, a systematic literature search and record assessment were performed. As a result, 16 fMRI studies were included in the meta-analysis, and were coded in Scribe 3.6 for inclusion in the BrainMap database. The activation coordinates for the contrasts of interest were transformed into Talairach space and submitted to an Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analysis in GingerALE 3.0.1. The results indicated that pronoun processing had functional convergence in the left posterior middle and superior temporal gyri, potentially reflecting the retrieval, prediction and integration roles of these areas for pronoun processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loubna El Ouardi
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States; Applied Language and Culture Studies Laboratory, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco.
| | - Mohamed Yeou
- Applied Language and Culture Studies Laboratory, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco
| | - Yasmeen Faroqi-Shah
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
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4
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Zhang Y, Wang F, Sui J. Decoding individual differences in self-prioritization from the resting-state functional connectome. Neuroimage 2023; 276:120205. [PMID: 37253415 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the self has traditionally been viewed as a higher-order mental function by most theoretical frameworks, recent research advocates a fundamental self hypothesis, viewing the self as a baseline function of the brain embedded within its spontaneous activities, which dynamically regulates cognitive processing and subsequently guides behavior. Understanding this fundamental self hypothesis can reveal where self-biased behaviors emerge and to what extent brain signals at rest can predict such biased behaviors. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the association between spontaneous neural connectivity and robust self-bias in a perceptual matching task using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 348 young participants. By decoding whole-brain connectivity patterns, the support vector regression model produced the best predictions of the magnitude of self-bias in behavior, which was evaluated via a nested cross-validation procedure. The out-of-sample generalizability was further authenticated using an external dataset of older adults. The functional connectivity results demonstrated that self-biased behavior was associated with distinct connections between the default mode, cognitive control, and salience networks. Consensus network and computational lesion analyses further revealed contributing regions distributed across six networks, extending to additional nodes, such as the thalamus, whose role in self-related processing remained unclear. These results provide evidence that self-biased behavior derives from spontaneous neural connectivity, supporting the fundamental self hypothesis. Thus, we propose an integrated neural network model of this fundamental self that synthesizes previous theoretical models and portrays the brain mechanisms by which the self emerges at rest internally and regulates responses to the external environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfa Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; The Centre for Positive Psychology Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Jie Sui
- School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, Scotland, Great Britain
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5
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Zhou S, Xu X, He X, Zhou F, Zhai Y, Chen J, Long Y, Zheng L, Lu C. Biasing the neurocognitive processing of videos with the presence of a real cultural other. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:1090-1103. [PMID: 35348645 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the digital age, while short videos present vital events with powerful information, the presence of cultural cues may bias our processing of videos of foreign cultures. However, the underlying neurocognitive processes remain unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that cultural cues might bias video processing by either enhancing cultural perspective-taking or shifting cultural self-schema. To test these hypotheses, we used a novel paradigm in which the cultural cue was a real cultural other (the priming participants) who watched American/Chinese videos together with the primed participants. The results showed that when the cue was present, the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) response to videos with other cultural content was shifted, showing a priming effect. Moreover, the activity pattern in the rTPJ was more congruent with the primed culture than with the original culture, reflecting a neural biasing effect. Finally, intersubject representational similarity analysis indicated that the neural biasing effect in the rTPJ was more closely associated with cultural perspective-taking than with cultural self-schema. In summary, these findings support the perspective-taking hypothesis, suggesting that cultural cues can significantly bias our cultural mindset by altering cultural perspective-taking when we are exposed to culture-relevant naturalistic stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Xinran Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Xiangyu He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Faxin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Yu Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Jinglu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Yuhang Long
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China.,Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No19. Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Lifen Zheng
- Center for Teacher Education Research, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, No19. Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Chunming Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, PR China
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6
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Zhang W, Andrews-Hanna JR, Mair RW, Goh JOS, Gutchess A. Functional connectivity with medial temporal regions differs across cultures during post-encoding rest. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:1334-1348. [PMID: 35896854 PMCID: PMC9703377 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01027-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Connectivity of the brain at rest can reflect individual differences and impact behavioral outcomes, including memory. The present study investigated how culture influences functional connectivity with regions of the medial temporal lobe. In this study, 46 Americans and 59 East Asians completed a resting state scan after encoding pictures of objects. To investigate cross-cultural differences in resting state functional connectivity, left parahippocampal gyrus (anterior and posterior regions) and left hippocampus were selected as seed regions. These regions were selected, because they were previously implicated in a study of cultural differences during the successful encoding of detailed memories. Results revealed that left posterior parahippocampal gyrus had stronger connectivity with temporo-occipital regions for East Asians compared with Americans and stronger connectivity with parieto-occipital regions for Americans compared with East Asians. Left anterior parahippocampal gyrus had stronger connectivity with temporal regions for East Asians than Americans and stronger connectivity with frontal regions for Americans than East Asians. Although connectivity did not relate to memory performance, patterns did relate to cultural values. The degree of independent self-construal and subjective value of tradition were associated with functional connectivity involving left anterior parahippocampal gyrus. Findings are discussed in terms of potential cultural differences in memory consolidation or more general trait or state-based processes, such as holistic versus analytic processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanbing Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS 062, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Jessica R Andrews-Hanna
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Cognitive Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Ross W Mair
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Joshua Oon Soo Goh
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Center of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Robotics, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Angela Gutchess
- Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS 062, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA.
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7
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Shi G, Li X, Zhu Y, Shang R, Sun Y, Guo H, Sui J. The divided brain: Functional brain asymmetry underlying self-construal. Neuroimage 2021; 240:118382. [PMID: 34252524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-construal (orientations of independence and interdependence) is a fundamental concept that guides human behaviour, and it is linked to a large number of brain regions. However, understanding the connectivity of these regions and the critical principles underlying these self-functions are lacking. Because brain activity linked to self-related processes are intrinsic, the resting-state method has received substantial attention. Here, we focused on resting-state functional connectivity matrices based on brain asymmetry as indexed by the differential partition of the connectivity located in mirrored positions of the two hemispheres, hemispheric specialization measured using the intra-hemispheric (left or right) connectivity, brain communication via inter-hemispheric interactions, and global connectivity as the sum of the two intra-hemispheric connectivity. Combining machine learning techniques with hypothesis-driven network mapping approaches, we demonstrated that orientations of independence and interdependence were best predicted by the asymmetric matrix compared to brain communication, hemispheric specialization, and global connectivity matrices. The network results revealed that there were distinct asymmetric connections between the default mode network, the salience network and the executive control network which characterise independence and interdependence. These analyses shed light on the importance of brain asymmetry in understanding how complex self-functions are optimally represented in the brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen Shi
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xuesong Li
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Yifan Zhu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, PR China
| | - Ruihong Shang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yang Sun
- Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Hua Guo
- Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jie Sui
- School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
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8
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Fan L, Duan Q, Luo S. Symphony of Well-Being: Harmony Between Neural Variability and Self-Construal. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:679086. [PMID: 34276327 PMCID: PMC8278332 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.679086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Both neural activities and psychological processes vary over time. Individuals with interdependent self-construal tend to define themselves and adjust their behaviors to social contexts and others. The current research tested the hypothesis that the coordination between interdependent self-construal and neural variability could predict life satisfaction changes in university freshmen. We integrated resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning and self-construal assessment to estimate self-dependent neural variability (SDNV). In the whole-brain prediction, SDNV successfully predicted individuals’ life satisfaction changes over 2 years. Interdependent individuals with higher neural variability and independent individuals with lower neural variability became more satisfied with their lives. In the network-based prediction, the predictive effects were significant in the default mode, frontoparietal control, visual and salience networks. The important nodes that contributed to the predictive models were more related to psychological constructs associated with the social and self-oriented functions. The current research sheds light on the neural and psychological mechanisms of the subjective well-being of individuals from a dynamic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyi Fan
- Department of Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Psychology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qin Duan
- Department of Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Psychology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Siyang Luo
- Department of Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Psychology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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9
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Zhu Y, Li X, Sun Y, Wang H, Guo H, Sui J. Investigating Neural Substrates of Individual Independence and Interdependence Orientations via Efficiency-based Dynamic Functional Connectivity: A Machine Learning Approach. IEEE Trans Cogn Dev Syst 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/tcds.2021.3101643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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10
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Self-esteem and cultural worldview buffer mortality salience effects on responses to self-face: Distinct neural mediators. Biol Psychol 2020; 155:107944. [PMID: 32810564 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Terror management theory proposes cultural worldview and self-esteem as two buffers against death anxiety. The neural mediators of these buffering effects, however, have not been fully understood. The present work investigated neural mediation mechanisms between self-esteem/cultural trait (self-construal) and mortality salience (MS) effects on self-face processing. We found that MS (vs. NA) priming eliminated self-face advantage in behavioral judgments of face-orientation in low self-esteem individuals and reduced self-face advantage in behavioral judgments of facial-familiarity in individuals with high interdependent self-construals. Our functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) results showed that, following MS priming, insular activities mediated the relationship between self-esteem and self-face advantage in face-orientation judgments, whereas dorsal medial prefrontal activity mediated the relationship between interdependent self-construal and self-face advantage in face-familiarity judgments. Our findings suggest that distinct neural mechanisms are engaged in mediating the relationships between self-esteem/cultural trait and MS effects on the emotional and cognitive processes of self-relevant information.
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11
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Heyes C, Bang D, Shea N, Frith CD, Fleming SM. Knowing Ourselves Together: The Cultural Origins of Metacognition. Trends Cogn Sci 2020; 24:349-362. [PMID: 32298621 PMCID: PMC7903141 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Metacognition - the ability to represent, monitor and control ongoing cognitive processes - helps us perform many tasks, both when acting alone and when working with others. While metacognition is adaptive, and found in other animals, we should not assume that all human forms of metacognition are gene-based adaptations. Instead, some forms may have a social origin, including the discrimination, interpretation, and broadcasting of metacognitive representations. There is evidence that each of these abilities depends on cultural learning and therefore that cultural selection might shape human metacognition. The cultural origins hypothesis is a plausible and testable alternative that directs us towards a substantial new programme of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Heyes
- All Souls College, University of Oxford, High Street, Oxford OX1 4AL, UK; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UD, UK.
| | - Dan Bang
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UD, UK; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Nicholas Shea
- Institute of Philosophy, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU, UK; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
| | - Christopher D Frith
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Institute of Philosophy, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU, UK
| | - Stephen M Fleming
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Max Planck University College London Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London WC1B 5EH, UK; Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK.
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12
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Flinkenflogel N, Vu TV, van Kesteren MTR, Krabbendam L. Neural Correlates of Self-Construal Priming in the Ultimatum Game. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:994. [PMID: 31616239 PMCID: PMC6769036 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research from cultural and social psychology has identified a central role of self-construal, or the way one views themselves in relation to others, in social cognition. Accordingly, it is plausible that self-construal plays an instrumental role in important aspects of decision-making relating to fairness considerations. Prior research has shown that priming methodology is a useful tool to experimentally isolate the effect of self-construal on social decision-making processes. In the current study we investigated the neural effects of self-construal priming on fairness considerations, using an Ultimatum Game setup (N = 97). Based on previous findings, we predicted an interaction between the self-construal prime and gender on Ultimatum Game behavior; males primed with interdependence would reject the offer relatively more compared to independence, and vice versa for females. As previous neuro-imaging research has established an instrumental role of the anterior insula (AI) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in the rejection of unfair offers, we expected higher rejection rates to be mirrored by increased activity in these regions. However, the analyses did not confirm these predictions. As further inspection of the data revealed a habituation effect, we performed a follow-up analysis on the first block (N = 59). This subsequent analysis revealed that priming interdependence resulted in reduced AI activity compared to priming independence, although no behavioral differences were observed. The difference was theorized to result from motivations as conflict avoidance and harmony maintenance, commonly associated with interdependence. Furthermore, the analysis revealed greater vmPFC activity for females compared to males for rejected offers, although this effect was not robust when controlled for trait self-construal. These follow-up analyses suggest that self-construal priming influences insula activity, as well as implicating an underlying role of trait self-construal in observed gender differences in vmPFC activity relating to fairness considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nic Flinkenflogel
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tuong-Van Vu
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marlieke T. R. van Kesteren
- Department of Education Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Institute for Brain and Behavior, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lydia Krabbendam
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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13
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Qu Y, Lin LC, Telzer EH. Culture Modulates the Neural Correlates Underlying Risky Exploration. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:171. [PMID: 31191278 PMCID: PMC6548807 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Most research on cultural neuroscience focuses on one dimension of culture: group membership or individual orientation. However, it is especially important to examine the intersection between the two to better understand the acculturation process. To examine the role of culture in the neural correlates of risky exploration, the current study recruited 22 American and 24 Chinese international students. Participants reported on their independent self-construal, a measure defining the self in terms of emphasizing unique attributes, and underwent an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan while completing a risk-taking task. At the group level, American (vs. Chinese) participants showed greater risky exploration on the task. Moreover, while independent self-construal was not related to American individuals' behavioral performance and neural correlates of risky exploration, Chinese participants who reported greater independent self-construal recruited greater activation in regions of the cognitive control system [e.g., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)] and affective system [e.g., anterior insula (AI)], which was related to greater risky exploration. Taken together, our findings suggest that culture as group membership and individual orientation may interact with each other and relate to neural systems underlying risky exploration. This study highlights the importance of studying the role of culture at both group and individual level, which is particularly critical to understand individuals as they acculturate to a new environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Qu
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Lynda C. Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Eva H. Telzer
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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14
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Li LMW, Luo S, Ma J, Lin Y, Fan L, Zhong S, Yang J, Huang Y, Gu L, Fan L, Dai Z, Wu X. Functional connectivity pattern underlies individual differences in independent self-construal. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2018; 13:269-280. [PMID: 29385622 PMCID: PMC5836281 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsy008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Independent vs interdependent self-construal is a concept that reflects how people perceive the relationship between self and other people, which has been extensively examined across disciplines. However, little evidence on the whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) pattern of independent vs interdependent self-construal has been reported. Here, in a sample of 51 healthy participants, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based FC analysis (i.e. FC strength and seed-based FC) by measuring the temporal correlation of blood oxygen level-dependent signals between spatially separate brain regions to investigate the neural mechanism of independent vs interdependent self-construal. First, we found that FC strength of bilateral posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus, and left inferior frontal gyrus were positively correlated with the independent vs interdependent score. Seed-based FC analysis with these three regions as seeds revealed that, FC within default mode network and executive control network was positively correlated with the independent vs interdependent score. Negative correlation with independent vs interdependent score was shown in the connections between default mode network and executive control regions. Taking together, our results provide a comprehensive FC architecture of the independent vs interdependent self-construal and advance the understanding of the interplay between culture, mind and brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liman Man Wai Li
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siyang Luo
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junji Ma
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ying Lin
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Linlin Fan
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shengqi Zhong
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junkai Yang
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingyu Huang
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Gu
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Leyi Fan
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhengjia Dai
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiang Wu
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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15
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Knyazev GG, Merkulova EA, Savostyanov AN, Bocharov AV, Saprigyn AE. Effect of Cultural Priming on Social Behavior and EEG Correlates of Self-Processing. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:236. [PMID: 30349465 PMCID: PMC6186948 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are social beings and the self is inevitably conceptualized in terms of social environment. The degree to which the self is perceived as fundamentally similar or fundamentally different from other people is modulated by cultural stereotypes, such as collectivism and individualism. These stereotypes are not hardwired in our brains and individuals differ in the degree to which they adopt the attitudes that define their culture. Moreover, individuals can acquire multiple sets of cultural knowledge and, depending on the context, either individualistic or collectivistic cultural mindset could be activated. In this study, we used cultural priming techniques to activate either individualistic or collectivistic mindset and investigated the association between source-level EEG connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) and spontaneous self-related thoughts in the subsequent resting state. Afterward, participants performed a social interaction task, in which they were allowed to choose between friendly, avoidant, or aggressive behavior. After collectivism priming, self-related thoughts were associated with increased connectivity of DMN with the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ), which is involved in taking the perspective of others and is more active in representatives of collectivistic cultures, whereas after individualism priming they were associated with increased connectivity with the temporal pole, which is involved in self/other discrimination and is more active in representatives of individualistic cultures. Individual differences in the intensity of post-priming self-related thoughts and the strength of DMN-temporal pole connectivity predicted individual differences in behavior during the social interaction task, with individualistic mindset predisposing to more friendly and trustful social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennady G. Knyazev
- Laboratory of Psychophysiology of Individual Differences, Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ekaterina A. Merkulova
- Laboratory of Psychophysiology of Individual Differences, Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander N. Savostyanov
- Laboratory of Psychophysiology of Individual Differences, Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Humanitarian Institute, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Andrey V. Bocharov
- Laboratory of Psychophysiology of Individual Differences, Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Humanitarian Institute, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander E. Saprigyn
- Laboratory of Psychophysiology of Individual Differences, Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
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16
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Zhang T, Xi S, Jin Y, Wu Y. Self-Construal Priming Modulates Self-Evaluation under Social Threat. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1759. [PMID: 29081755 PMCID: PMC5645819 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that Westerners evaluate themselves in an especially flattering way when faced with a social-evaluative threat. The current study first investigated whether East Asians also have a similar pattern by recruiting Chinese participants and using social-evaluative threat manipulations in which participants perform self-evaluation tasks while adopting different social-evaluative feedbacks (Experiment 1). Then further examined whether the different response patterns can be modulated by different types of self-construal by using social-evaluative threat manipulations in conjunction with a self-construal priming task (Experiment 2). The results showed that, as opposed to Westerners' pattern, Chinese participants rated themselves as having significantly greater above-average effect only when faced with the nonthreatening feedback but not the social-evaluative threat. More importantly, we found that self-construal modulated the self-evaluation under social-evaluative threat: following independent self-construal priming, participants tended to show a greater above-average effect when faced with a social-evaluative threat. However, this pattern in conjunction with a social threat disappeared after participants received interdependent self-construal priming or neutral priming. These findings suggest that the effects of social-evaluative threat on self-evaluation are not culturally universal and is strongly modulated by self-construal priming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyang Zhang
- School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College, Soochow University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sisi Xi
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Jin
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhong Wu
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Machine Perception, Peking University, Beijing, China
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17
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Nguyen-Phuong-Mai M. A critical analysis of cultural metaphors and static cultural frameworks with insight from cultural neuroscience and evolutionary biology. CROSS CULTURAL & STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.1108/ccsm-07-2016-0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct a critical analysis to address cultural metaphors – a much overlooked aspect of cross-cultural studies. Mainstream cultural metaphors (e.g. the iceberg, the software of the mind, the onion, and the distance) are not only limited in number, but are also overwhelmingly based on the static paradigm – as opposed to the dynamic paradigm that is often sidelined in academic discourse.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper introduces the Diagram of Diversity Pathways – an interdisciplinary framework that sheds some light on how the inherent meaning and heuristic orientation of static cultural metaphors may stand at odds with evidence from the newly emerged field of neurobiology.
Findings
The implications of these metaphors are called into question, namely, culture is all about differences; values are stable; values guide behaviors; and values are seen as binaries.
Research limitations/implications
The paper suggests that theorists and practitioners should pay more attention to the contribution and scholarly work of the dynamic paradigm since there appears to be substantial compatibility between them.
Originality/value
The matching of neurobiology and dynamic paradigm brings into focus alternative metaphors which not only offer insightful perspectives but also may open doors to perceive culture in a new way. Furthermore, cultural metaphors deserve more academic scrutiny because metaphors and theory development can have a symbiotic existence.
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18
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Abstract
Despite the long scholarly discourse in Western theology and philosophy on religion, spirituality, and faith, explanations of what a belief and what believing is are still lacking. Recently, cognitive neuroscience research addressed the human capacity of believing. We present evidence suggesting that believing is a human brain function which results in probabilistic representations with attributes of personal meaning and value and thereby guides individuals’ behavior. We propose that the same mental processes operating on narratives and rituals constitute belief systems in individuals and social groups. Our theoretical model of believing is suited to account for secular and non-secular belief formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger J Seitz
- Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Hans-Ferdinand Angel
- Institute of Catechetic and Pedagogic of Religion, Karl Franzens University Graz, Graz, Austria
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19
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Seitz RJ, Paloutzian RF, Angel HF. Processes of believing: Where do they come from? What are they good for? F1000Res 2016; 5:2573. [PMID: 28105309 PMCID: PMC5200943 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.9773.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the long scholarly discourse in Western theology and philosophy on religion, spirituality, and faith, explanations of what a belief and what believing is are still lacking. Recently, cognitive neuroscience research addressed the human capacity of believing. We present evidence suggesting that believing is a human brain function which results in probabilistic representations with attributes of personal meaning and value and thereby guides individuals' behavior. We propose that the same mental processes operating on narratives and rituals constitute belief systems in individuals and social groups. Our theoretical model of believing is suited to account for secular and non-secular belief formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger J. Seitz
- Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Hans-Ferdinand Angel
- Institute of Catechetic and Pedagogic of Religion, Karl Franzens University Graz, Graz, Austria
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20
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Abstract
Culture can be thought of as a set of everyday practices and a core theme-individualism, collectivism, or honor-as well as the capacity to understand each of these themes. In one's own culture, it is easy to fail to see that a cultural lens exists and instead to think that there is no lens at all, only reality. Hence, studying culture requires stepping out of it. There are two main methods to do so: The first involves using between-group comparisons to highlight differences and the second involves using experimental methods to test the consequences of disruption to implicit cultural frames. These methods highlight three ways that culture organizes experience: (a) It shields reflexive processing by making everyday life feel predictable, (b) it scaffolds which cognitive procedure (connect, separate, or order) will be the default in ambiguous situations, and (c) it facilitates situation-specific accessibility of alternate cognitive procedures. Modern societal social-demographic trends reduce predictability and increase collectivism and honor-based go-to cognitive procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphna Oyserman
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1061;
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21
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Han S, Humphreys G. Self-construal: a cultural framework for brain function. Curr Opin Psychol 2016; 8:10-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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22
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Koelkebeck K, Uwatoko T, Tanaka J, Kret ME. How culture shapes social cognition deficits in mental disorders: A review. Soc Neurosci 2016; 12:102-112. [PMID: 26899265 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2016.1155482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Social cognitive skills are indispensable for successful communication with others. Substantial research has determined deficits in these abilities in patients with mental disorders. In neurobiological development and continuing into adulthood, cross-cultural differences in social cognition have been demonstrated. Moreover, symptomatic patterns in mental disorders may vary according to the cultural background of an individual. Cross-cultural studies can thus help in understanding underlying (biological) mechanisms and factors that influence behavior in health and disease. In addition, studies that apply novel paradigms assessing the impact of culture on cognition may benefit and advance neuroscience research. In this review, the authors give an overview of cross-cultural research in the field of social cognition in health and in mental disorders and provide an outlook on future research directions, taking a neuroscience perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Koelkebeck
- a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , School of Medicine, University of Muenster , Muenster , Germany
| | - Teruhisa Uwatoko
- b Department of Psychiatry , Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University , Sakyo-ku, Kyoto , Japan.,c Kyoto University Health Service , Sakyo-ku, Kyoto , Japan
| | - Jiro Tanaka
- d Faculty of Modern Languages and Cultures , Santa Monica College , Santa Monica , CA , USA.,e Adjunct Faculty in Foreign Languages , Los Angeles Valley College , Valley Glen , CA , USA
| | - Mariska Esther Kret
- f The Cognitive Psychology Unit , Leiden University, Institute of Psychology , AK , Leiden
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23
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Northoff G. 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. Cogn Neurosci 2016; 7:203-22. [PMID: 26505808 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2015.1111868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Northoff
- a Institute of Mental Health Research , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Canada.,b Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders , Hangzhou Normal University , Hangzhou , China.,c Centre for Brain and Consciousness , Taipei Medical University (TMU) , Taipei , Taiwan.,d College for Humanities and Medicine , Taipei Medical University (TMU) , Taipei , Taiwan.,e ITAB , University of Chieti , Chieti , Italy
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24
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Han S, Ma Y. A Culture–Behavior–Brain Loop Model of Human Development. Trends Cogn Sci 2015; 19:666-676. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2015.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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25
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The relation between language, culture, and thought. Curr Opin Psychol 2015; 8:70-77. [PMID: 29506807 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between culture, language, and thought has long been one of the most important topics for those who wish to understand the nature of human cognition. This issue has been investigated for decades across a broad range of research disciplines. However, there has been scant communication across these different disciplines, a situation largely arising through differences in research interests and discrepancies in the definitions of key terms such as 'culture,' 'language,' and 'thought.' This article reviews recent trends in research on the relation between language, culture and thought to capture how cognitive psychology and cultural psychology have defined 'language' and 'culture,' and how this issue was addressed within each research discipline. We then review recent research conducted in interdisciplinary perspectives, which directly compared the roles of culture and language. Finally, we highlight the importance of considering the complex interplay between culture and language to provide a comprehensive picture of how language and culture affect thought.
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26
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Han S. Understanding cultural differences in human behavior: a cultural neuroscience approach. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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27
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Wang C, Wu B, Liu Y, Wu X, Han S. Challenging emotional prejudice by changing self-concept: priming independent self-construal reduces racial in-group bias in neural responses to other's pain. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2015; 10:1195-201. [PMID: 25605968 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans show stronger empathy for in-group compared with out-group members' suffering and help in-group members more than out-group members. Moreover, the in-group bias in empathy and parochial altruism tend to be more salient in collectivistic than individualistic cultures. This work tested the hypothesis that modifying self-construals, which differentiate between collectivistic and individualistic cultural orientations, affects in-group bias in empathy for perceived own-race vs other-race pain. By scanning adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found stronger neural activities in the mid-cingulate, left insula and supplementary motor area (SMA) in response to racial in-group compared with out-group members' pain after participants had been primed with interdependent self-construals. However, the racial in-group bias in neural responses to others' pain in the left SMA, mid-cingulate cortex and insula was significantly reduced by priming independent self-construals. Our findings suggest that shifting an individual's self-construal leads to changes of his/her racial in-group bias in neural responses to others' suffering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenbo Wang
- Department of Psychology, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China, and
| | - Bing Wu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Psychology, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China, and
| | - Xinhuai Wu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shihui Han
- Department of Psychology, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China, and
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28
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Kirmayer LJ, Crafa D. What kind of science for psychiatry? Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:435. [PMID: 25071499 PMCID: PMC4092362 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatry has invested its hopes in neuroscience as a path to understanding mental disorders and developing more effective treatments and ultimately cures. Recently, the U.S. NIMH has elaborated this vision through a new framework for mental health research, the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). This framework aims to orient mental health research toward the discovery of underlying neurobiological and biobehavioral mechanisms of mental disorders that will eventually lead to definitive treatments. In this article we consider the rationale of the RDoC and what it reveals about implicit models of mental disorders. As an overall framework for understanding mental disorders, RDoC is impoverished and conceptually flawed. These limitations are not accidental but stem from disciplinary commitments and interests that are at odds with the larger concerns of psychiatry. A multilevel, ecosocial approach to biobehavioral systems is needed both to guide relevant neuroscience research and insure the inclusion of social processes that may be fundamental contributors to psychopathology and recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence J. Kirmayer
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University & Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, Jewish General HospitalMontreal, QC, Canada
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29
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Fong MC, Goto SG, Moore C, Zhao T, Schudson Z, Lewis RS. Switching between Mii and Wii: The effects of cultural priming on the social affective N400. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40167-014-0015-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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30
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31
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Varnum ME, Shi Z, Chen A, Qiu J, Han S. When “Your” reward is the same as “My” reward: Self-construal priming shifts neural responses to own vs. friends' rewards. Neuroimage 2014; 87:164-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Revised: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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