Connectivity between mPFC and PCC predicts post‐choice attitude change: The self‐referential processing hypothesis of choice justification

Abstract

Prior research shows that after making a choice, decision makers shift their attitudes in a choice-congruous direction. Although this post-choice attitude change effect is robust, the neural mechanisms underlying it are poorly understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that decision makers elaborate on their choice in reference to self-knowledge to justify the choice they have made. This self-referential processing of the choice is thought to play a pivotal role in the post-choice attitude change. Twenty-four young American adults made a series of choices. They also rated their attitudes toward the choice options before and after the choices. In support of the current hypothesis, we found that changes in functional connectivity between two putative self-regions (medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus]) during the post-choice (vs. pre-choice) rating of the chosen options predicted the post-choice shift of the attitudes toward the chosen options. This finding is the first to suggest that cognitive integration of various self-relevant cognitions is instrumental in fostering post-choice attitude change. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3810-3820, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cognitive dissonance resolution depends on episodic memory

“…Indeed, recent functional neuroimaging103334 and cortical stimulation3536 studies revealed the contribution of various prefrontal cortices in CIPC. However, our fMRI analysis did not reveal the contribution of such regions when testing for the critical interaction between memory and condition (RCR vs RRC).…”

Decrease of Functional Connectivity within the Default Mode Network by a Brief Training of Focused Attention on the Breath in Novices

“…To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first report that explores the DMN connectivity in novices at the beginning of the mindfulness training involving the focus attention on the breath. In particular, we focused on the anterior-posterior DMN functional connectivity because it has been shown to play a crucial role in selfrelevant cognitive behaviors (Tompson et al, 2016). The result showed that the functional connectivity between the left dvACC/vmPFC with the right PCC/PCUN showed a significant reduction in the MG compared to the CG.…”

“…In a recent study using MEG (Tang et al, 2017), alpha oscillations during resting state were specifically associated to the connectivity between mPFC and PCC (the anterior and posterior DMN). This specific connectivity plays a crucial role in self-relevant cognitive behaviors and choice justification (Tompson et al, 2016) and it is thought to mediate the sense of self (Washington and VanMeter, 2015). Interestingly, the antero-posterior DMN connectivity varies across human life span, it increases from childhood to adulthood (Washington and VanMeter, 2015) and it decreases during elderly (Vidal-Piñero et al, 2014;Andrews-Hanna et al, 2007), and an hyperconnectivity between mPFC/ACC and PCC has been correlated to neuropsychiatric disorders, e.g., schizophrenia and major depressive disorders (Whitfield-Gabrieli and Ford, 2012).…”

“…Given the neuroplastic nature of the antero-posterior DMN connectivity and its involvement in cognitive activity, e.g. self-referential processes (Tompson et al, 2016;Washington and VanMeter, 2015), specifically targeted by the meditation practice, we hypothesize that variations in this specific connectivity could in part underly behavioral changes induced by few days of meditation training in novices.…”

Нейромеханизмы Изменения Преференций После Принятия Решений

“…The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) has been associated with an extensive number of cognitive functions, including conscious awareness and cognitive control (Leech, Kamourieh, Beckmann, & Sharp, 2011), emotional memory encoding (Maddock, Garrett, & Buonocore, 2001), memory retrieval and planning (Vann, Aggleton, & Maguire, 2009), maintaining changes in the external environment (Pearson, Heilbronner, Barack, Hayden, & Platt, 2011), and controlling the balance between external and internal attention (Leech & Sharp, 2014). Previous fMRI studies have observed stronger activity of the PCC either during difficult choices (Kitayama et al, 2013;Qin et al, 2011;Tompson, Chua, & Kitayama, 2016) or after difficult choices (Izuma et al, 2010) as compared to easy choices. Another study showed that PCC activity is positively correlated with the perceived desirability of objects (Kawabata & Zeki, 2008).…”