Group activation differences, whole brain analysis: a) activations for the within-subjects contrast <i>self > other</i>.

<p>b) Activations for the between-subjects contrast <i>no-threat > self-threat</i> (negative feedback on the intelligence test result) c) Activations for the between-subjects contrast <i>positive traits > negative traits</i> (self-reference only). All activations are shown for a threshold of <i>p</i> < 0.001 uncorrected, reporting only clusters that have <i>p</i> < 0.05 corrected on cluster level.</p

Means of Trait self-esteem sum scores of the four participant groups.

<p>Mean trait self-esteem sum scores were gained from the Rosenberg scale.</p><p>Sums were calculated over the items of the scale. There were no significant differences.</p><p>Means of Trait self-esteem sum scores of the four participant groups.</p

Demographics of the threat vs. no-threat group who evaluated either self-positive/other-negative or self-negative/other positive traits.

<p>Demographics of the threat vs. no-threat group who evaluated either self-positive/other-negative or self-negative/other positive traits.</p

Scatter plot of the significant correlation between the log-transformed reaction times of the negative self-related traits and trait self-esteem under self-threat.

<p>Scatter plot of the significant correlation between the log-transformed reaction times of the negative self-related traits and trait self-esteem under self-threat.</p

Correlations between trait self-esteem and the self-related traits response latencies separately for participants with and without self-threat.

<p>* for <i>p <</i>. <i>05</i>.</p><p>Correlations between trait self-esteem and the self-related traits response latencies separately for participants with and without self-threat.</p

Between-subjects group differences in activation: self-threat and no-threat activation (contrasts: <i>threat>no-threat</i> and <i>no-threat>threat</i>); activation for positive self-related and negative self-related traits (contrasts: <i>self-positive>self-negative</i> and <i>self-negative>self-positive</i>).

<p>Statistical parameter maps were thresholded at p < 0.005 uncorrected, reporting only clusters with p < 0.05 corrected on cluster level. k = cluster size, Z = Z value for the maximally activated voxel of the cluster.</p><p>Between-subjects group differences in activation: self-threat and no-threat activation (contrasts: <i>threat>no-threat</i> and <i>no-threat>threat</i>); activation for positive self-related and negative self-related traits (contrasts: <i>self-positive>self-negative</i> and <i>self-negative>self-positive</i>).</p

Experimental procedure within the scanner.

<p>Each block began with the display of the cue (“self” or “Nikolaus Sarkozy”) for 2000 ms. A fixation cross was displayed with a mean duration of 3500 ms. Then either a positive or a negative personality trait was shown for 3000 ms. The response (agree or disagree) had to given within a 3000 ms time limit.</p

Regression plot of the manipulation check analyses.

<p>Centered SSES sum scores as the criterion (y-axis), the performance feedback condition as the predictor (x-axis) and separated by continuous trait self-esteem scores as the moderator (levels are calculated automatically as ±1 SD below and above mean). * Significance was tested on a p<.05 level.</p

ROI-analyses: Averaged percent signal change values for all conditions against baseline shown for a) the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and b) the ventral anterior cingulate cortex.

<p>ROI-analyses: Averaged percent signal change values for all conditions against baseline shown for a) the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and b) the ventral anterior cingulate cortex.</p

Correlation with ROI contrast values: the scatter plot demonstrates the significant correlation between averaged ROI contrast values of dACC activation and the associated log-transformed means of response latencies of the positive self-related traits.

<p>Correlation with ROI contrast values: the scatter plot demonstrates the significant correlation between averaged ROI contrast values of dACC activation and the associated log-transformed means of response latencies of the positive self-related traits.</p