Metacognition and emotion - How accurate perception of own biases relates to positive feelings and hedonic capacity

Joanna E Szczepanik; Hanna Brycz; Pawel Kleka; Agnieszka Fanslau; Carlos A Zarate Jr; Allison C Nugent

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2020.102936

Metacognition and emotion - How accurate perception of own biases relates to positive feelings and hedonic capacity

Conscious Cogn. 2020 Jul:82:102936. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2020.102936. Epub 2020 May 13.

Authors

Joanna E Szczepanik¹, Hanna Brycz², Pawel Kleka³, Agnieszka Fanslau², Carlos A Zarate Jr⁴, Allison C Nugent⁵

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Mental Health, Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders Bethesda, MD, USA; National Institute of Mental Health, Division of Translational Research, Rockville, MD, USA. Electronic address: szczepaj@nih.gov.
² University of Gdańsk, Poland.
³ Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań, Poland.
⁴ National Institute of Mental Health, Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders Bethesda, MD, USA.
⁵ National Institute of Mental Health, Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders Bethesda, MD, USA; National Institute of Mental Health, MEG Core Facility, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Abstract

Metacognition refers to awareness of one's own cognitive processes, including examining own biases and decision making. Metacognitive self (MCS), defined as accuracy in perception of own biases, is associated with pro-health behaviors and desire for feedback, including negative information. Two studies investigated MCS in relation to emotion and hedonic capacity. First, in a longitudinal study of college students, MCS measure was stable over time, and correlated with feelings of love and joy. In the second study, MCS, mood, and hedonic capacity ratings were collected prior to evaluating stimuli for pleasure from engagement during an fMRI. Higher MCS was associated with greater hedonic capacity and increased signal in cortical areas involved in self-reflection and decision making. Our findings implicate self-awareness of biases as a cognitive process supporting positive emotional state and hedonic capacity. Future studies should explore how MCS relates to changes in mood and vulnerability to mood disorders.

Keywords: Anhedonia; Bias; Emotion; Metacognition; Self-awareness; Temporoparietal junction.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Affect / physiology
Awareness / physiology*
Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging
Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
Decision Making / physiology*
Female
Happiness
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Love
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Metacognition / physiology*
Pleasure / physiology*
Self Concept*
Young Adult

Grants and funding

ZIA MH002927/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States