In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , a group of researchers investigated the neural substrates and mental processes underlying blushing in response to self-observation. Background Blushing, an involuntary reddening of the face linked to self-conscious emotions like embarrassment and pride, was deemed by Darwin as 'the most human of all expressions.' Despite this, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Theories diverge on whether blushing is a higher-level cognitive process involving self-reflection or an automatic response to social exposure. Further research is needed to fully understand the specific neural pathways and cognitive processes that contribute to blushing and self-awareness. About the study Sixty-three female adolescents aged 16-20 years from Amsterdam participated in the present study, recruited via social media and the University of Amsterdam's student pool.
Unaware they would sing karaoke, participants were informed only of a social task involving video watching in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner. Initial recruitment included an online social anxiety symptoms questionnaire, inviting those with high or low scores. Out of 63, 49 participated in the MRI session; others were ineligible due to factors like piercings or Intrauterine Devices (IUDs).
Nine were excluded due to Functional (f) MRI data errors, leaving 40 participants (Mage = 19.3 years, s.d.
= 1.10). One participant had missing cheek t.