| |
Abstract:
Abstract: Colorado State University Fink et al. (1996)
obtained PET evidence for frontal lobe involvement in retrieval of
personal memories, but not with other kinds of retrieval. Craik et
al. (1999) reported that brain activity associated with
self-relevant encoding of trait adjectives did not differ
substantially from other forms of semantic encoding. Fink et al.
finding may be attributed to differences in salience or familiarity
of stimuli, not to self-relevant processing. The null finding in
Craik et al. study may be due to obligatory self-relevant encoding
of trait adjectives, regardless of the task. Present fMRI study
used a neutral list of stimuli, that could be counterbalanced
across conditions. Names of food items were presented one at a
time. In self-relevant encoding condition, participants decided
whether or not they themselves liked this food item. In
other-relevant condition, participants decided whether or not an
average American would like this food item. Finally, in semantic
encoding condition, participants decided whether or not this food
item would be rich in calcium. One scan consisted of alternating
self-relevant and semantic encoding conditions; another scan
consisted of alternating other-relevant and semantic encoding
conditions--both in a block design. Right temporal and bilateral
polar frontal activation was observed in self-relevant relative to
semantic encoding condition, and only left polar frontal activation
was observed in the other-relevant relative to semantic encoding
condition, consistent with right hemisphere involvement in
self-relevant processing.
|
