Is Self Special? A Critical Review of Evidence From Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience.
Abstract
Varied research findings have been taken to support the claim that humans' representation of the self is "special," that is, that it emerges from systems that are physically and functionally distinct from those used for more general purpose cognitive processing. The authors evaluate this claim by reviewing the relevant literatures and addressing the criteria for considering a system special, the various operationalizations of self, and how the studies' findings relate to the conclusions drawn. The authors conclude that many of the claims for the special status of self-related processing are premature given the evidence and that the various self-related research programs do not seem to be illuminating a unitary, common system, despite individuals' subjective experience of a unified self.
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Many of the brain regions identified in self-processing are not physically and functionally distinct from those used for more general-purpose cognitive processing.
“While new research seems to promise new insights to come, it must be conceded that many of the brain regions identified in self-processing are not physically and functionally distinct from those used for more general-purpose cognitive processing (e.g., perceiving others), which raises the question of whether there are any brain networks distinct to self and identity (e.g., Gillihan & Farah, 2005).”
From Self and identity in personality psychology (2021) · cites this paper as Gillihan & Farah, 2005
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- Authors
- Gillihan, S. J., & Farah, M. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- ORCID
- Farah, Martha J.
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 2005-01
- Volume
- 131
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 76-97
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W2006744517
- Cited by
- 470
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 27.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (0226060)
- National Institutes of Health (5r01ag014082-05, 5k02ag000756-05)
- National Institute on Aging (R01 AG-14082-04, K02 AG-00756-04)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA 14129, R01DA014129)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Representations and Identity
- Keywords
- self-representation, self-referential processing, self-concept, self-awareness
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neurosciences, Psychology, Experimental, Self Concept, Cognitive Science, Recognition, Psychology
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