Self-referential belief shares common neural correlates with general belief

• Verfasst von: Bruns, Emily [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Scholz, Immanuel [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Koppe, Georgia [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kirsch, Peter [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Gerchen, Martin Fungisai [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Self-referential belief shares common neural correlates with general belief
• Verf.angabe: Emily Bruns, Immanuel Scholz, Georgia Koppe, Peter Kirsch & Martin Fungisai Gerchen
• E-Jahr: 2025
• Jahr: 16 January 2025
• Umfang: 12 S.
• Illustrationen: Illustrationen, Diagramme
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 03.07.2025
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Scientific reports
• Ort Quelle: [London] : Springer Nature, 2011
• Jahr Quelle: 2025
• Band/Heft Quelle: 15(2025), 1, Artikel-ID 2137, Seite 1-12
• ISSN Quelle: 2045-2322
• DOI: doi:10.1038/s41598-024-84445-6
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Cognitive neuroscience
• Sach-SW: Social neuroscience
• K10plus-PPN: 1929716559

Abstract

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.