Neural systems for reflected and direct self-appraisals in Chinese young adults: Exploring the role of the temporal-parietal junction

Abstract

Objectives: Although cortical midline structures (CMS) are the most commonly identified neural foundations of self-appraisals, research is beginning to implicate the temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) in more interdependent self-construals. The goal of this study was to extend this research in an understudied population by (a) examining both direct (first-person) and reflected (third-person) self-appraisals across 2 domains (social and academics), and (b) exploring individual differences in recruitment of the TPJ during reflected self-appraisals.

Method: The neural correlates of direct and reflected self-appraisals in social and academic domains were examined in 16 Chinese young adults (8 males, 8 females; aged 18-23 years) using functional MRI.

Results: As expected, when making reflected self-appraisals (i.e., reporting what they believed others thought about them, regardless of domain), Chinese participants recruited both CMSs and the TPJ. Similar to previous research in East Asian and interdependent samples, CMSs and the TPJ were relatively more active during direct self-appraisals in the social than in the academic domain. We additionally found that, to the extent participants reported that reflected academic self-appraisals differed from direct academic self-appraisals, they demonstrated greater engagement of the TPJ during reflected academic self-appraisals. Exploratory cross-national comparisons with previously published data from American participants revealed that Chinese young adults engaged the TPJ relatively more during reflected self-appraisals made from peer perspectives.

Conclusions: In combination with previous research, these findings increase support for a role of the TPJ in self-appraisal processes, particularly when Chinese young adults consider peer perspectives. The possible functional contributions provided by the TPJ are explored and discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Figure 1. Clusters Relatively More Active During Direct Social and All Reflected Self-Appraisals than Direct Academic Self-Appraisals

Bilateral TPJ, anterior rostral and dorsal mPFC, and mPPC regions showed significantly more activity during direct self-appraisals in the social domain as well as reflected self-appraisals in either domain, when compared with direct self-appraisals in the academic domain (note that direct other-appraisals in each domain were used as a control). Results are displayed at p < .005, with a cluster size threshold of k = 57 (achieves correction for multiple comparisons). x and z refer to the MNI coordinates corresponding to the left-right and inferior-superior axes, respectively. TPJ, mPFC, and mPPC refer to temporal-parietal junction, medial prefrontal cortex, and medial posterior parietal cortex, respectively.

Figure 2. Clusters Relatively More Active During Direct Social Self-Appraisals than Direct Academic Self-Appraisals

mPFC, mPPC, and right TPJ regions showed significantly more activity during direct self-appraisals in the social domain than the academic domain (note that direct other-appraisals in each domain were used as a control). Results are displayed at p < .005, with a cluster size threshold of k = 27. x and z refer to the MNI coordinates corresponding to the left-right and inferior-superior axes, respectively. TPJ, mPFC, and mPPC refer to temporal-parietal junction, medial prefrontal cortex, and medial posterior parietal cortex, respectively.

Figure 3. Functionally Independent ROI Analysis of Right TPJ

Panel A displays mean percent signal change extracted from one of the two independent ROIs in right TPJ ([52 −50 22], defined by the meta-analysis of self/other processing in Denny et al., 2012). In the social domain, there was no difference in activity between direct self-appraisals and reflected self-appraisals from any perspective (mother, best friend, or classmates). However, in the academic domain, reflected self-appraisals from peer perspectives (best friend and classmates) engaged right TPJ significantly more than direct self-appraisals. Direct self-appraisals trended towards engaging right TPJ more in the social than academic domain. Panel B depicts the correlation between percent signal change extracted from right TPJ and agreement in the academic domain (percentage of answers that matched between a given domain-specific reflected self-appraisal and the direct self-appraisal in that same domain). TPJ refers to the temporal-parietal junction; REFL refers to reflected appraisals; DIR refers to direct appraisals; SOC refers to the social domain; ACAD refers to the academic domain; BEST refers to the best friend perspective; and CLASS refers to the classmates’ perspective.

Figure 4. Whole-Brain Regressions and Agreement Between Direct and Reflected Self-Appraisals

Panel A (NEG-MA) depicts activity in right TPJ and left VLPFC that was negatively correlated with mother-academic agreement in a whole-brain regression analysis, controlling for direct other-appraisals. Panel B (NEG-BA) depicts activity in right TPJ, mPPC, dorsal mPFC, and bilateral VLPFC that was negatively correlated with best friend-academic agreement in a whole-brain regression analysis, controlling for direct other-appraisals. Panel C (POS-BS) depicts activity in rostral ACC and bilateral posterior insula that was positively correlated with best friend-social agreement in a whole-brain regression analysis, controlling for direct other-appraisals. For more details, see Table 4. Results are displayed at p < .005, with a cluster size threshold of k = 57 (achieves correction for multiple comparisons). x and z refer to the MNI coordinates corresponding to the left-right and inferior-superior axes, respectively. TPJ, VLPFC, mPFC, mPPC, and ACC refer to temporal-parietal junction, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, medial posterior parietal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex, respectively.

Figure 5. Cross-National Comparisons in Right TPJ

Comparison of mean percent signal change extracted from one of the two independent ROIs in right TPJ ([52 −50 22], defined by the meta-analysis of self/other processing in Denny et al., 2012) in American and Chinese samples. There were no significant differences in activity between direct self-appraisals in either domain, or reflected academic self-appraisals from mothers’ perspective. However, reflected academic self-appraisals from peer perspectives (best friend and classmates) engaged right TPJ significantly more in Chinese than American samples.