Change in emotional self-concept following socio-cognitive training relates to structural plasticity of the prefrontal cortex

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Anna Lena Lumma
  • Sofie L. Valk
  • Anne Böckler
  • Pascal Vrtička
  • Tania Singer

External Research Organisations

  • Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Science (MPI CBS)
  • Witten/Herdecke University
  • Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere00940
JournalBrain and behavior
Volume8
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 10 Apr 2018
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Introduction: Self-referential processing is a key component of the emotional self-concept. Previous studies have shown that emotional self-referential processing is related to structure and function of cortical midline areas such as medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and that it can be altered on a behavioral level by specific mental training practices. However, it remains unknown how behavioral training-related change in emotional self-concept content relates to structural plasticity. Methods: To address this issue, we examined the relationship between training-induced change in participant's emotional self-concept measured through emotional word use in the Twenty Statement Test and change in cortical thickness in the context of a large-scale longitudinal mental training study called the ReSource Project. Results: Based on prior behavioral findings showing increased emotional word use particularly after socio-cognitive training targeting perspective-taking capacities, this study extended these results by revealing that individual differences in the degree to which participants changed their emotional self-concept after training was positively related to cortical thickness change in right mPFC extending to dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC). Furthermore, increased self-related negative emotional word use after training was positively associated with cortical thickness change in left pars orbitalis and bilateral dlPFC. Conclusions: Our findings reveal training-related structural brain change in regions known to be involved in self-referential processing and cognitive control, and could indicate a relationship between restructuring of the emotional self-concept content as well as reappraisal of negative aspects and cortical thickness change. As such, our findings can guide the development of psychological interventions targeted to alter specific facets of the self-concept.

Keywords

    cortical thickness, emotional word use, meditation, mental training, neuroplasticity, self-concept content, self-descriptions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Change in emotional self-concept following socio-cognitive training relates to structural plasticity of the prefrontal cortex. / Lumma, Anna Lena; Valk, Sofie L.; Böckler, Anne et al.
In: Brain and behavior, Vol. 8, No. 4, e00940, 10.04.2018.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Lumma AL, Valk SL, Böckler A, Vrtička P, Singer T. Change in emotional self-concept following socio-cognitive training relates to structural plasticity of the prefrontal cortex. Brain and behavior. 2018 Apr 10;8(4):e00940. doi: 10.1002/brb3.940
Download
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title = "Change in emotional self-concept following socio-cognitive training relates to structural plasticity of the prefrontal cortex",
abstract = "Introduction: Self-referential processing is a key component of the emotional self-concept. Previous studies have shown that emotional self-referential processing is related to structure and function of cortical midline areas such as medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and that it can be altered on a behavioral level by specific mental training practices. However, it remains unknown how behavioral training-related change in emotional self-concept content relates to structural plasticity. Methods: To address this issue, we examined the relationship between training-induced change in participant's emotional self-concept measured through emotional word use in the Twenty Statement Test and change in cortical thickness in the context of a large-scale longitudinal mental training study called the ReSource Project. Results: Based on prior behavioral findings showing increased emotional word use particularly after socio-cognitive training targeting perspective-taking capacities, this study extended these results by revealing that individual differences in the degree to which participants changed their emotional self-concept after training was positively related to cortical thickness change in right mPFC extending to dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC). Furthermore, increased self-related negative emotional word use after training was positively associated with cortical thickness change in left pars orbitalis and bilateral dlPFC. Conclusions: Our findings reveal training-related structural brain change in regions known to be involved in self-referential processing and cognitive control, and could indicate a relationship between restructuring of the emotional self-concept content as well as reappraisal of negative aspects and cortical thickness change. As such, our findings can guide the development of psychological interventions targeted to alter specific facets of the self-concept.",
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note = "Funding Information: Funding information Tania Singer, as principal investigator, received funding for the ReSource Project from the European Research Council under the European Community's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013/ERC Grant Agreement Number 205557 to T.S.) and from the Max Planck Society We are thankful to all the members of the Department of Social Neuroscience involved in the ReSource study over the many years, in particular to all ReSource teachers who taught the intervention program, to Astrid Ackermann, Christina Bochow, Matthias Bolz, and Sandra Zurborg for managing the large-scale longitudinal study, to Hannes Niederhausen, Henrik Grunert, and Torsten K?stner for their technical support, to Sylvia Tydeks, Elisabeth Murzick, Manuela Hofmann, Sylvie Neubert, and Nicole Pampus for their help with recruitment and data collection, and to Bethany Kok for her statistical guidance. The current study was not preregistered in an independent, institutional registry. All data are available from the authors upon request. Funding Information: funding for the ReSource Project from the European Research Council under the European Community{\textquoteright}s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013/ERC Grant Agreement Number 205557 to T.S.) and from the Max Planck Society",
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AU - Lumma, Anna Lena

AU - Valk, Sofie L.

AU - Böckler, Anne

AU - Vrtička, Pascal

AU - Singer, Tania

N1 - Funding Information: Funding information Tania Singer, as principal investigator, received funding for the ReSource Project from the European Research Council under the European Community's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013/ERC Grant Agreement Number 205557 to T.S.) and from the Max Planck Society We are thankful to all the members of the Department of Social Neuroscience involved in the ReSource study over the many years, in particular to all ReSource teachers who taught the intervention program, to Astrid Ackermann, Christina Bochow, Matthias Bolz, and Sandra Zurborg for managing the large-scale longitudinal study, to Hannes Niederhausen, Henrik Grunert, and Torsten K?stner for their technical support, to Sylvia Tydeks, Elisabeth Murzick, Manuela Hofmann, Sylvie Neubert, and Nicole Pampus for their help with recruitment and data collection, and to Bethany Kok for her statistical guidance. The current study was not preregistered in an independent, institutional registry. All data are available from the authors upon request. Funding Information: funding for the ReSource Project from the European Research Council under the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013/ERC Grant Agreement Number 205557 to T.S.) and from the Max Planck Society

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N2 - Introduction: Self-referential processing is a key component of the emotional self-concept. Previous studies have shown that emotional self-referential processing is related to structure and function of cortical midline areas such as medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and that it can be altered on a behavioral level by specific mental training practices. However, it remains unknown how behavioral training-related change in emotional self-concept content relates to structural plasticity. Methods: To address this issue, we examined the relationship between training-induced change in participant's emotional self-concept measured through emotional word use in the Twenty Statement Test and change in cortical thickness in the context of a large-scale longitudinal mental training study called the ReSource Project. Results: Based on prior behavioral findings showing increased emotional word use particularly after socio-cognitive training targeting perspective-taking capacities, this study extended these results by revealing that individual differences in the degree to which participants changed their emotional self-concept after training was positively related to cortical thickness change in right mPFC extending to dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC). Furthermore, increased self-related negative emotional word use after training was positively associated with cortical thickness change in left pars orbitalis and bilateral dlPFC. Conclusions: Our findings reveal training-related structural brain change in regions known to be involved in self-referential processing and cognitive control, and could indicate a relationship between restructuring of the emotional self-concept content as well as reappraisal of negative aspects and cortical thickness change. As such, our findings can guide the development of psychological interventions targeted to alter specific facets of the self-concept.

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