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Abstract:
Abstract: Evidence has indicated that various components of
self- related cognitive processing are subserved by preferential
activity within the right prefrontal cortex. However, research to
this point has relied heavily on case reports and functional
neuroimaging studies have revealed weak effects. We therefore
applied brief trains of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation (rTMS) during an adjective judgement task to test the
hypothesis that self- related evaluation may be a right prefrontal
function. Lists of adjectives were displayed and participants (N=7)
had to judge whether the adjective described themselves or a
familiar individual. While making the determination, trains of rTMS
were either applied over the left or right prefrontal cortex, or
sham (single-wing over CZ). It was found that right prefrontal
stimulation significantly increased reaction times in making
self-judgements when compared to self-judgements made during left
prefrontal or sham rTMS. It was further found that compared to the
familiar-adjective conditions, within the Self-adjective
judgements, there were significantly quicker reaction times for
negative adjectives as compared to positive adjectives. These
findings support the hypothesis that self-related phenomena may be
subserved preferentially by cortical networks within the right
prefrontal cortex.
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