The Influence of Self-Referential Processing on Attentional Orienting in Frontoparietal Networks

Abstract

Self-referential processing refers to the processing of information relevant to oneself and plays an important role in cognition. Behavioral studies have shown that directional cue stimuli have a qualitatively different function during attentional orienting after presentation of the cue associated with the self. However, it is necessary to determine how neural activity is influenced by self-referential processing during attentional orienting. The present study involved establishing an association between non-predictive arrow cues and the “self” during a training task and then investigating the influence of self-referential processing on neural activity during attentional orienting. Enhanced neural activity was observed in cortical midline structures (CMS) during the use of self- vs. neutral-arrow cues, which suggests that the arrow associated with the “self” triggered self-referential processing during attentional orienting due to the experiences of the participant in the training task. Comparison of obtained under the incongruent and congruent conditions revealed a qualitative difference in neural activities between the self- and neutral-arrow cues associated with attentional orienting. Furthermore, when the neutral-arrow cue was treated as a baseline condition, neural activity was reduced in the frontoparietal attention networks by self-referential processing under the incongruent condition, but it was enhanced under the congruent condition. Thus, the stimulus modulated subsequent attentional neural processes after being associated with the self as a cue, which indicates that this process may be triggered by self-reference to automatically and effectively capture information. Our findings extend those of previous behavioral studies of neural activity, suggesting that directional cues were qualitatively influenced by self-referential processing, and showed different functions during attentional orienting. Moreover, the present study provides important evidence of how self-referential processing affects attentional orienting in the frontoparietal network. Highlights: Enhanced activity was observed in CMS due to self-referential processing. The influence of self-referential processing differed in the frontoparietal network. Activity was enhanced by self-referential processing under the congruent condition. Activity was reduced by self-referential processing under the incongruent condition.