{
  "abstract": "Background: Social anxiety (SA) is characterized by distorted negative expectations about the future. Because optimism bias is inherently comparative, the extent to which these predictions reflect a fundamental disruption in self- versus other-referential processing remains poorly understood. Methods: Across two experiments, we investigated the mechanisms underlying social predictions in SA. In Experiment 1, individuals with high (n = 52, LSAS > 65) and low SA (n = 51, LSAS < 35) rated the future likelihood of positive and negative social outcomes for themselves or for a protagonist. In Experiment 2, 35 adults spanning a continuous spectrum of SA completed the task during fMRI. Behavior was analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Neurally, multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) quantified self-other representational distinctions, while a parametric general linear model (GLM) tracked neural sensitivity to likelihood predictions. Results: Behaviorally, higher SA was characterized by an attenuated optimism bias: individuals predicted a lower likelihood of positive outcomes, but a higher likelihood of negative outcomes, for themselves compared to others. Neurally, higher trait SA correlated with greater self-other representational distinction within the left pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC). Concurrently, the precuneus exhibited stronger parametric tracking of self-negative predictions versus others. Crucially, pgACC representational distinction during positive outcome processing significantly mediated the association between SA severity and heightened prediction-tracking in the precuneus. Conclusions: These findings offer a novel mechanistic framework, suggesting that an exaggerated neural segregation of the self from others drives hyper-vigilant, risk-sensitive social predictions in SA. This candidate circuit-level dynamic warrants further replication in clinical cohorts.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Macau"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Y. Qi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Hu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Q. Fan"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Yang"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Hein"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "H. Wu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/37xw1tbgvbjw6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.29.762906",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.762906v1.full",
  "id": "37xw1tbgvbjw6",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.762906v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.762906v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/37xw1tbgvbjw6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T00:21:40Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.29.762906",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.762906v2"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Self-Other Neural Representational Distinction is Associated with Distorted Social Predictions in Social Anxiety",
  "title_text": "Self-Other Neural Representational Distinction is Associated with Distorted Social Predictions in Social Anxiety",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T00:21:48Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/37xw1tbgvbjw6",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}