Publications [#252543] of Mark R. Leary

Journal Articles

1. Eisenberger, NI; Inagaki, TK; Muscatell, KA; Byrne Haltom, KE; Leary, MR (2011). The neural sociometer: brain mechanisms underlying state self-esteem.. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 23(11), 3448-3455. [doi]
   (last updated on 2023/01/01)

   Abstract:
   On the basis of the importance of social connection for survival, humans may have evolved a "sociometer"-a mechanism that translates perceptions of rejection or acceptance into state self-esteem. Here, we explored the neural underpinnings of the sociometer by examining whether neural regions responsive to rejection or acceptance were associated with state self-esteem. Participants underwent fMRI while viewing feedback words ("interesting," "boring") ostensibly chosen by another individual (confederate) to describe the participant's previously recorded interview. Participants rated their state self-esteem in response to each feedback word. Results demonstrated that greater activity in rejection-related neural regions (dorsal ACC, anterior insula) and mentalizing regions was associated with lower-state self-esteem. Additionally, participants whose self-esteem decreased from prescan to postscan versus those whose self-esteem did not showed greater medial prefrontal cortical activity, previously associated with self-referential processing, in response to negative feedback. Together, the results inform our understanding of the origin and nature of our feelings about ourselves.