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The neural sociometer: brain mechanisms underlying state self-esteem.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Eisenberger, NI; Inagaki, TK; Muscatell, KA; Byrne Haltom, KE; Leary, MR
Published in: Journal of cognitive neuroscience
November 2011

On the basis of the importance of social connection for survival, humans may have evolved a "sociometer"-a mechanism that translates perceptions of rejection or acceptance into state self-esteem. Here, we explored the neural underpinnings of the sociometer by examining whether neural regions responsive to rejection or acceptance were associated with state self-esteem. Participants underwent fMRI while viewing feedback words ("interesting," "boring") ostensibly chosen by another individual (confederate) to describe the participant's previously recorded interview. Participants rated their state self-esteem in response to each feedback word. Results demonstrated that greater activity in rejection-related neural regions (dorsal ACC, anterior insula) and mentalizing regions was associated with lower-state self-esteem. Additionally, participants whose self-esteem decreased from prescan to postscan versus those whose self-esteem did not showed greater medial prefrontal cortical activity, previously associated with self-referential processing, in response to negative feedback. Together, the results inform our understanding of the origin and nature of our feelings about ourselves.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of cognitive neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1530-8898

ISSN

0898-929X

Publication Date

November 2011

Volume

23

Issue

11

Start / End Page

3448 / 3455

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Sociometric Techniques
  • Social Behavior
  • Self Concept
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Oxygen
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Interpersonal Relations
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Eisenberger, N. I., Inagaki, T. K., Muscatell, K. A., Byrne Haltom, K. E., & Leary, M. R. (2011). The neural sociometer: brain mechanisms underlying state self-esteem. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 23(11), 3448–3455. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00027
Eisenberger, Naomi I., Tristen K. Inagaki, Keely A. Muscatell, Kate E. Byrne Haltom, and Mark R. Leary. “The neural sociometer: brain mechanisms underlying state self-esteem.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 23, no. 11 (November 2011): 3448–55. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00027.
Eisenberger NI, Inagaki TK, Muscatell KA, Byrne Haltom KE, Leary MR. The neural sociometer: brain mechanisms underlying state self-esteem. Journal of cognitive neuroscience. 2011 Nov;23(11):3448–55.
Eisenberger, Naomi I., et al. “The neural sociometer: brain mechanisms underlying state self-esteem.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, vol. 23, no. 11, Nov. 2011, pp. 3448–55. Epmc, doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00027.
Eisenberger NI, Inagaki TK, Muscatell KA, Byrne Haltom KE, Leary MR. The neural sociometer: brain mechanisms underlying state self-esteem. Journal of cognitive neuroscience. 2011 Nov;23(11):3448–3455.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of cognitive neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1530-8898

ISSN

0898-929X

Publication Date

November 2011

Volume

23

Issue

11

Start / End Page

3448 / 3455

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Sociometric Techniques
  • Social Behavior
  • Self Concept
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Oxygen
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Interpersonal Relations