The Special Brain: Subclinical Grandiose Narcissism and Self-Face Recognition in the Right Prefrontal Cortex

Abstract

Though debated, it has been argued that self-face recognition is an indicator of consciousness of self typically called self-awareness. Evidence from behavioral and neuronal studies suggests that self-recognition is associated with activation in the right prefrontal cortex (PFC). Although previous studies have examined neurological correlates of deficits in self-recognition (e.g., autism, schizophrenia), the current study attempted to examine neurological correlates of inflated self-focus. Thus, this study used transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess neurological correlates of self-recognition in different regions of the PFC and to assess whether narcissistic personality traits would be correlated with reaction time (RT) among 11 healthy participants. It was found that RT for self-face identification was positively correlated with narcissistic personality traits (p = .034). It was also found that the interaction between brain region and RT for self-faces was significant after narcissism was controlled for, demonstrating an association between narcissistic traits and self-recognition (p = .036). The results support previous research indicating the right PFC is necessary for self-face recognition. Furthermore, increases in narcissistic traits decreased self-recognition RT, and self-recognition appeared to be mediated via right PFC regions.

Self-Conscious Emotions and the Right Fronto-Temporal and Right Temporal Parietal Junction

“…However, we assume that as ToM requirements increase, there will be a bigger pull of rTPJ [ 109 ]. To test this, we examined excessive pride in a non-clinical sample [ 110 ]. We found that one’s own excessive pride was correlated with the ability to self-recognize.…”

The Neurological Asymmetry of Self-Face Recognition

“…This might indicate that the 'specialness' of the self-face is much 'deeper' in one's cognitive schema and does not rely on conscious representation. It would be interesting to test narcissistic traits (as in [104]) to see whether there are similar contributions of narcissism at the implicit level, as we previously observed at the explicit level.…”

“…More recent studies have found that disruption of the RH is more dramatic for those individuals with subclinical grandiose narcissism [104]. That is, as narcissistic traits increase, TMS delivered to the RH causes a greater disruption of recognition of one's own face.…”

Self-Enhancement and the Medial Prefrontal Cortex: the Convergence of Clinical and Experimental Findings

“…This ability to selfenhance to avoid negative emotions as well as increase positive ones in a similar fashion has been viewed in healthy individuals as well, albeit to a lesser extent 25,72 . NPD is associated with excessive activity in the PFC 73,74 and disruption of the PFC via TMS appears to decrease the degree of subclinical NPD an individual may possess 75 .…”