Abstract
Individuals are found to have better recall for self-referent information than other types of information. However, attribution research has shown that self-reference is highly correlated with emotional valence. The present study attempted to identify and separate the processing of self-reference and emotional valence using ERPs. Participants performed a two-choice task, judging the self-referential content of positive and negative words. Reaction times revealed an interaction between self-reference and emotional valence. Faster responses occurred after self-positive and non-self negative words as compared to self-negative and non-self-positive words. A similar interaction was identified in ERP waveforms in the time range of the N400 component at fronto-central electrode sites, with larger N400 amplitudes for words outwith the self-positivity bias. Thus, the size of the N400 may indicate the extent to which information is discrepant with the individual's self-concept. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 106-110 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Brain Research |
Volume | 1152 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 4 Jun 2007 |
Keywords
- self
- self-reference
- valence
- positivity bias
- ERPs
- PERSONAL INFORMATION
- MEMORY
- WORDS
- FMRI
- SEARCH