Context (archaeology)

Cognitive psychology

Neuroscience

Biology

Social psychology

Cognition

Association (psychology)

Economics

Computer science

Cognitive science

Paleontology

Psychology

Task (project management)

Self-reference

Politics

Management

Political science

Psychotherapist

Representation (politics)

Programming language

Self

Perception

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

We propose a new account of how self-reference affects information processing. We report evidence that self-reference affects the binding of memory to source, the integration of parts into perceptual wholes, and the ability to switch from a prior association to new associations. Self-reference also influences the integration of different stages of processing, linking attention to decision making, and affects the coupling between brain regions mediating self-representation and attention to the environment. Taken together, the data suggest that self-reference acts as a form of 'integrative glue' which can either enhance or disrupt performance, depending on the task context. We discuss the implications for understanding the self, and future directions for research.

The Integrative Self: How Self-Reference Integrates Perception and Memory