Subliminals Case Study - Subliminal Affirmations Work

Journal Article - Oxford Academic

Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation

Journal Article - Oxford Academic - Proof

https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/11/4/621/2375054

Here’s the summary of this study:

Self-affirmation activates brain systems linked to self-processing and reward, reinforcing future orientation. This study explores the neural mechanisms of self-affirmation using fMRI. Self-affirmations help maintain a positive self-view and can restore self-competence in response to threats. When affirmed, participants showed increased activity in areas related to self-processing (medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex) and valuation (ventral striatum and ventral medial prefrontal cortex) when reflecting on core values. These neural responses predicted behavioral changes, particularly in reducing sedentary behavior after a physical activity intervention.

Self-affirmation broadens perspective, reduces negative emotions, and may help individuals focus on sources of positive self-worth. The effectiveness of affirmations may arise from engaging neural mechanisms related to reward and self-processing. Temporal orientation—thinking about the past or future—can influence these neural responses, suggesting that future-oriented thoughts may enhance the effects of self-affirmation.

The study involved 67 sedentary adults, who ranked personal values and participated in fMRI sessions to evaluate neural activity during self-affirmation tasks. Affirmed participants reflected on their top-ranked values, while control participants focused on their lowest-ranked values. The findings aim to deepen the understanding of self-affirmation mechanisms and inform interventions for behavior change.