Multivariable pattern classification differentiates relational self-esteem from personal self-esteem.

Relational self-esteem (RSE) refers to one's sense of self-worth based on the relationship with significant others, such as family and best friends. Although previous neuroimaging research has investigated the neural processes of RSE, it is less clear how RSE is represented in multivariable neural patterns. Being able to identify a stable RSE signature could contribute to knowledge about relational self-worth. Here, using multivariate pattern classification to differentiate RSE from personal self-esteem (PSE), which pertains to self-worth derived from personal attributes, we obtained a stable diagnostic signature of RSE relative to PSE. We found that multivariable neural activities in the superior/middle temporal gyrus, precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, dorsal medial Prefrontal Cortex (dmPFC) and temporo-parietal junction were responsible for diagnosis of RSE, suggesting that the evaluation of RSE involves the retrieval of relational episodic memory, perspective-taking and value calculation. Further, these diagnostic neural signatures were able to sensitively decode neural activities related to RSE in another independent test sample, indicating the reliability of the brain state represented. By providing a reliable multivariate brain pattern for RSE relative to PSE, our results informed more cognitively prominent processing of RSE than that of PSE and enriched our knowledge about how relational self-worth is generated in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Social Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)