Assessing the neural correlates of self-enhancement bias: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study

Virginia S.Y. Kwan; Veronica Barrios; Giorgio Ganis; Jamie Gorman; Claudia Lange; Monisha Kumar; Alejandro Shepard; Julian Paul Keenan

doi:10.1007/s00221-007-0992-2

Assessing the neural correlates of self-enhancement bias: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study

Virginia S.Y. Kwan, Veronica Barrios, Giorgio Ganis, Jamie Gorman, Claudia Lange, Monisha Kumar, Alejandro Shepard, Julian Paul Keenan

Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Considerable research has focused on overly positive self-perceptions (self-enhancement), and yet little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms. The present study sought to assess the neural correlates of self-enhancement by applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to three brain regions. Twelve participants rated their best friend, as well as the self on a set of desirable or undesirable traits while TMS pulses were delivered in a virtual lesion manner. During the baseline condition (Sham TMS), participants produced more desirable and fewer undesirable ratings for themselves as compared to their best friend, showing self-enhancement. Compared to Sham TMS, TMS delivered to the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC) reduced self-enhancement whereas TMS delivered to the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) and the precuneus did not. Together, these findings suggest that the MPFC may influence self-enhancement.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	379-385
Number of pages	7
Journal	Experimental Brain Research
Volume	182
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-007-0992-2
State	Published - Sep 2007

Keywords

Medial prefrontal cortex
Self-deception
Self-enhancement
Self-perception
TMS
Transcranial magnetic stimulation

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10.1007/s00221-007-0992-2

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abstract = "Considerable research has focused on overly positive self-perceptions (self-enhancement), and yet little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms. The present study sought to assess the neural correlates of self-enhancement by applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to three brain regions. Twelve participants rated their best friend, as well as the self on a set of desirable or undesirable traits while TMS pulses were delivered in a virtual lesion manner. During the baseline condition (Sham TMS), participants produced more desirable and fewer undesirable ratings for themselves as compared to their best friend, showing self-enhancement. Compared to Sham TMS, TMS delivered to the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC) reduced self-enhancement whereas TMS delivered to the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA) and the precuneus did not. Together, these findings suggest that the MPFC may influence self-enhancement.",

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AU - Kumar, Monisha

AU - Shepard, Alejandro

AU - Keenan, Julian Paul

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KW - Self-deception

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Assessing the neural correlates of self-enhancement bias: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study

Abstract

Keywords

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