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Publication

Prioritization of arbitrary faces associated to self: An EEG study

Title / Series / Name
PLOS ONE
Publication Volume
13
Publication Issue
1
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Electroencephalography
Event-related potentials
Eye movements
Face
Face recognition
Reaction time
Self-consciousness
Sensory perception
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/14205
Abstract
Behavioral and neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that people process preferentially self-related information such as an image of their own face. Furthermore, people rapidly incorporate stimuli into their self-representation even if these stimuli do not have an intrinsic relation to self. In the present study, we investigated the time course of the processes involved in preferential processing of self-related information. In two EEG experiments three unfamiliar faces were identified with verbal labels as either the participant, a friend, or a stranger. Afterwards, participants judged whether two stimuli presented in succession (ISI = 1500ms) matched. In experiment 1, faces were followed by verbal labels and in experiment 2, labels were followed by faces. Both experiments showed the same pattern of behavioral and electrophysiological results. If the first stimulus (face or label) was associated with self, reaction times were faster and the late frontal positivity following the first stimulus was more pronounced. The self-association of the second stimulus (label or face) did not affect response times. However, the central-parietal P3 following presentation of the second stimulus was more pronounced when the second stimulus was preceded by self-related first stimulus. These results indicate that even unfamiliar faces that are associated to self can activate a self-representation. Once the self-representation has been activated the processing of ensuing stimuli is facilitated, irrespective of whether they are associated with the self.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2018
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1371/journal.pone.0190679
Publisher link
Unit