Identifying the neuronal basis of self-concept in the human medial prefrontal and medial temporal brain regions

Project Information

SELFIEv2.0

Grant agreement ID: 750955

DOI

10.3030/750955

Project closed

EC signature date 10 March 2017

Start date 1 March 2018

End date 28 February 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 265 059,00

EU contribution

€ 265 059,00

Coordinated by

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Sweden

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SELFIEv2.0 (Identifying the neuronal basis of self-concept in the human medial prefrontal and medial temporal brain regions)

Reporting period: 2020-03-01 to 2021-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Self-concept is one’s idea of who one is as a person. This complex mental construct allows us to make sense of the world and thrive as social individuals, but negative and rigid beliefs about oneself are related to reduced motivation and depression. Despite the importance of self-concept for mental health, how neurons in the human brain encode knowledge and beliefs about the self is unknown.

The aim of this EU project funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action is to characterize the neurophysiological mechanisms of self-concept representation for the first time. We use the state-of-the-art methods of single-neuron recordings in human subjects implanted with depth electrodes for the diagnosis of epilepsy. The project is a collaboration between the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

We have collected and analyzed data from more than thirty participants and identified unique patterns of brain activity related to the encoding and retrieval of self-relevant information. These key findings have important implications for the future diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders characterized by an atypical sense of self, including depression. Apart from providing novel scientific insights, the project has established new international collaborations and allowed significant transfer of knowledge.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We have identified neurons in the human brain that respond selectively during the processing of various self-related information, as well as neurons that are preferentially involved in the encoding and retrieval of information relevant to the self. These mental processes involved unique activity patterns also across populations of neurons in the frontal and temporal brain regions. Furthermore, our behavioral studies with control participants showed that the self-concept representation is dynamically updated by the perception of one’s body. We have disseminated our findings among researchers and students via scientific publications, presentations at international conferences, invited talks, and educational courses. Our results have attracted significant media attention targeted at the general public as well.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Taken together, SELFIEv2.0 has provided unique insights into the brain basis of the human sense of self that are relevant to a broad range of disciplines, including cognitive neuroscience, psychology, artificial intelligence, neurology, and psychiatry, as well as to the general public. The project has helped to develop new ‘know-how’ in Europe, created opportunities for international collaborations, and crucially, provided a ‘springboard’ for designing advanced tools for the improvement of mental health.

Credit: Pawel Tacikowski