Living in a world filled with paradoxes and contradictions, individuals are constantly required to process conflicting information, which can have significant implications for their mental health and well-being (Berliner et al., 2016). One such instance of processing contradictory information is self-ambivalence, a psychological concept that refers to the simultaneous presence of both positive and negative associations or beliefs about oneself, leading to conflicting self-evaluations and feelings (Priester & Petty, 1996; Thompson, 1995). Self-ambivalence is a broad concept that encompasses various aspects of the self, such as personal traits, values, and self-worth, and is often associated with psychological discomfort, confusion, self-doubt, and difficulty in decision-making (Guidano & Liotti, 1983). This internal conflict can contribute to anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem (Hui et al., 2009), making it a crucial determinant of various aspects of mental health (Brown, 2013; Engelbrecht & Jobson, 2015; Godwin et al., 2020; Riketta & Ziegler, 2006, 2007).
Despite the significant impact of self-ambivalence on mental health, there is limited direct evidence on the neural underpinnings of this phenomenon. While previous studies have investigated the neural correlates of conflict processing and self-referential processing separately, the specific neural mechanisms underlying self-ambivalence remain largely unexplored. A recent fMRI study by Wang et al. (2016) provided preliminary evidence for the neural basis of conflicting processing self-related information, linking dialectical thinking to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). However, several questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding the temporal dynamics of self-ambivalence processing and the potential manifestation of self-ambivalence in stable patterns of task-state brain activity, such as event-related potentials (ERPs).
To address the gaps in the literature, the current study aims to investigate the neural basis and specific EEG responses of self-ambivalence using electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERP). Unlike the fMRI approach used by Wang et al. (2016), which effectively localized relevant brain regions but could not provide detailed temporal information, the high temporal resolution of EEG will be utilized to investigate the ERP correlates of self-ambivalence processing. Advanced statistical methods such as the Linear Mixed Model (LMM) will be employed to account for individual differences in effect sizes, which are often overlooked in prior studies using group estimates derived from ERP data (Fromer et al., 2018).
This study addresses three main research questions: (1) What are the neural representations of the ambivalent self under different components in the self-referential paradigm? (2) Which cognitive processes might these neural representations correspond to? (3) What is the relationship between the Dialectical Self Scale (DSS) scores and the EEG components? Prior EEG studies have shown that cognitive conflict tends to occur in the late components (250–650 ms) of ERPs, particularly N2 and N450 (James et al., 2012; Huang et al., 2021), while self-reference effects have been found in ERP components such as N2, P2, N3, P3, and especially P3 in brain regions associated with self-processing (Berlad & Pratt, 1995; Miyakoshi et al., 2007; Ninomiya et al., 1998; Tillman & Wiens, 2011). Building upon these findings, we hypothesized the following:
H1: The main effect of ambivalence will be manifested in the late component (250 ~ 650 ms).
H2: P3 will exhibit the effects of self-primary processing, as an increasing number of ERP studies have shown that self-referential effects focus on components N1, N2, P2, N3, and P3 in self-processing brain areas, particularly P3.
H3: Self-processing and conflict resolution will interact in the N2 component.
H4: DSS scale scores will be correlated with the level of activation in the midline brain area N2.
By exploring the neural basis of self-ambivalence, this research will contribute to our understanding of how the brain processes contradictory self-related information and its potential implications for mental health. The findings of this study may help to identify the specific neural mechanisms underlying self-ambivalence, which could inform the development of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the negative impact of self-ambivalence on mental health and well-being. Moreover, by investigating self-ambivalence as a distinct concept from dialectical self-thinking, this research will provide a more nuanced understanding of the different ways in which individuals process and cope with contradictory self-related information across cultures. Ultimately, this study aims to contribute to the growing body of literature on the neural basis of self-processing and its implications for mental health, highlighting the importance of investigating the neural mechanisms underlying self-ambivalence as a crucial determinant of psychological well-being and self-regulation.