Self-related neural response to tailored smoking-cessation messages predicts quitting

Chua, Hannah Faye; Ho, S. Shaun; Jasinska, Agnes J.; Polk, Thad A.; Welsh, Robert C.; Liberzon, Israel; Strecher, Victor J.

doi:10.1038/nn.2761

Cited by 162 publications

(215 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Neural responses can be recorded as affirmation and subsequent persuasion occur, without requiring self-report assessments that could interfere with the message recipient's natural thought processes. In support of this idea, our team has used neural predictors to augment understanding of health behavior change in response to interventions in other domains (42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50).…”

Section: Self-affirmationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…VMPFC is the most common region implicated in self-related processing (51) and is also a key region, along with the ventral striatum, implicated in positive valuation of stimuli (52). In addition, VMPFC has been consistently associated with behavior change in response to health messages in prior work (44)(45)(46)50). This prior research has suggested that the link between VMPFC activity during health message exposure and behavior change may stem from a recipient's ability to process a health message as self-relevant or as having value to oneself.…”

Section: Potential Neural Mechanisms Of Affirmationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Self-affirmation alters the brain’s response to health messages and subsequent behavior change

Falk

O’Donnell

Cascio

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

163

139

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Health communications can be an effective way to increase positive health behaviors and decrease negative health behaviors; however, those at highest risk are often most defensive and least open to such messages. For example, increasing physical activity among sedentary individuals affects a wide range of important mental and physical health outcomes, but has proven a challenging task. Affirming core values (i.e., self-affirmation) before message exposure is a psychological technique that can increase the effectiveness of a wide range of interventions in health and other domains; however, the neural mechanisms of affirmation's effects have not been studied. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine neural processes associated with affirmation effects during exposure to potentially threatening health messages. We focused on an a priori defined region of interest (ROI) in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), a brain region selected for its association with self-related processing and positive valuation. Consistent with our hypotheses, those in the self-affirmation condition produced more activity in VMPFC during exposure to health messages and went on to increase their objectively measured activity levels more. These findings suggest that affirmation of core values may exert its effects by allowing at-risk individuals to see the self-relevance and value in otherwise-threatening messages.self-affirmation | fMRI | behavior change | VMPFC | physical activity

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Section: Self-affirmationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Neural Mechanisms Of Affirmationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-affirmation alters the brain’s response to health messages and subsequent behavior change

Falk

O’Donnell

Cascio

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

163

139

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, as described above, the team specifically localized the effects to sub-regions of MPFC implicated in self-related processing and valuation, and demonstrated that the effects were specific to activity during the PSAs and not individual differences in general reactivity within MPFC (Cooper, Tompson, O'Donnell, & Falk, in press). In addressing how these neural findings can translate to message design, as described above, MPFC activity can be increased by intervention components that increase self-related processing, such as message tailoring (Chua et al, 2011). Recent studies described above also suggest that neural data may be useful in identifying messages that are later most effective in producing population level behavior change, despite not being identified through participant self-reports (e.g., Falk et al, 2012;under review).…”

Section: Using the Brain-as-predictor Approach To Test Theories In Comentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural Prediction of Communication-Relevant Outcomes

Cascio

Coronel

2015

Communication Methods and Measures

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Understanding and predicting the mechanisms and consequences of effective communication may be greatly advanced by leveraging knowledge from social and cognitive neuroscience research. We build on prior brain research that mapped mental processes, and show that information gained from neuroimaging can predict variation in communication outcomes over and above that associated with self-report. We further discuss how neural measures can complement physiological and other implicit measures. The brain-as-predictor approach can (1) allow researchers to predict individual and population level outcomes of exposure to communication stimuli with greater accuracy and (2) provide a better understanding of the mental processes underlying behaviors relevant to communication research. In this article, we give a detailed description of the brain-aspredictor approach and provide a guide for scholars interested in employing it in their research. We then discuss how the brain-as-predictor approach can be used to provide theoretical insights in communication research. Given its potential for advancing theory and practice, we argue that the brain-as-predictor approach can serve as a valuable addition to the communication science toolbox and provide a brief checklist for authors, reviewers and editors interested in using the approach.

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“…Members of the dental profession have a unique opportunity to influence tobacco use by their patients. [27] Dentists are obligated to help patients quit because tobacco use is the most common underlying cause of periodontal and many other oral diseases and conditions, apart from the risks to quality of life and to life itself. [28]Evidence is overwhelming that tobacco damages oral health and that clinical cessation methods work in dental practice.…”

Section: Conclusion:-mentioning

confidence: 99%