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Self-referential Cognition

Building upon our exploration of social cognition, one of our main research streams delves into the heart of self-referential cognition. We're particularly interested in the ways our minds inherently prioritize information relating to ourselves - a phenomenon known as 'self-prioritization'.

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The ability to recognize and prioritize self-relevant stimuli is a fundamental social-cognitive capability. It's what enables us to distinguish our toothbrush from others, or spot our boss in a crowded room. Without it, we'd face myriad challenges, from simple misunderstandings to severe embarrassment or even censure.

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In this research stream, we employ an eclectic mix of research methods and computational modeling techniques. Our goal is to dissect and understand this inherent preference for personal items during information processing and response generation.

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By understanding the nuances of self-association, we aim to shed light on the extensive benefits it brings to both our cognition and actions. This knowledge can contribute significantly to various fields, from cognitive psychology to artificial intelligence.

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Join us as we unravel the complex mechanisms that govern our self-focused cognitive processes and continue to push the boundaries of our understanding of the human mind.

Related Publications

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Macrae, C. N., Visokomogilski, A., Golubickis, M., Cunningham, W. A., & Sahraie, A. (2017). Self-relevance prioritizes access to visual awareness. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 43, 438-443.

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Golubickis, M., Falbén, J. K., Cunningham, W. A., & Macrae, C. N. (2018). Exploring the self-ownership effect: Separating stimulus and response biases. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, 44, 295-306. 

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Golubickis, M., Falbén, J. K., Ho, N. S., Sui, J., Cunningham, W. A., & Macrae, C. N. (2020) Parts of me: Exploring the self-prioritization effect. Consciousness and Cognition, 77, 102848.

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Golubickis, M., & Macrae, C. N. (2021). That’s me in the spotlight: Self-relevance modulates attentional breadth. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 28, 1915-1922.

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Golubickis, M., & Macrae, C. N. (2022). Sticky me: Self-relevance slows reinforcement learning. Cognition, 227, 105207.

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Golubickis, M., & Macrae, C. N. (2022). Self-Prioritization Reconsidered: Scrutinizing Three Claims. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17456916221131273.

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