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

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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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA

    Virginia S. Y. Kwan

  2. Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, 219 Dickson Hall, Upper Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA

    Veronica Barrios, Jamie Gorman, Claudia Lange, Monisha Kumar, Alejandro Shepard & Julian Paul Keenan

  3. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Giorgio Ganis

  4. Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Monisha Kumar

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Alejandro Shepard

Authors
  1. Virginia S. Y. Kwan
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  2. Veronica Barrios
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  4. Jamie Gorman
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  6. Monisha Kumar
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  8. Julian Paul Keenan
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Correspondence to Julian Paul Keenan.

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Kwan, V.S.Y., Barrios, V., Ganis, G. et al. Assessing the neural correlates of self-enhancement bias: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Exp Brain Res 182, 379–385 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-007-0992-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-007-0992-2

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