Abstract: The nature of mental representation of the self has been addressed extensively by philosophers and psychologists. Cross-cultural psychological research has shown evidence for Western/East Asian cultural differences in self-construals. Recent brain imaging studies have explored neural correlates of self-related processing and have found evidence for neural mechanisms of self-representation that are sensitive to cultures. This paper reviews recent brain imaging findings of Western/East Asian cultural differences in neural substrates underlying self-representation in the perceptual and mental domains. The studies using transcultural and cultural priming imaging have led to the development of cultural neuroscience.

Key words: culture, self, brain imaging, cultural neuroscience