Influence of acculturation on the ERP correlates of self- and other-referencing

Acculturation, or cultural change in individuals through continuous contact between distinct cultural groups, is an important construct to study to understand the mechanisms behind effects of cultural background, values, and environment on thoughts and behaviors. This study examined the impact of acculturation on cognitive strategy usage, specifically investigating change in self- and other-referencing strategies in memory among Chinese international students as they acculturated to the US. The current study replicated in a new sample behavioral memory effects associated with acculturation. Importantly, it also extended research by examining the relationship between acculturation and ERP components (P300, late frontal positivity, late positive potential) that represent processes associated with memory strategies (self-/other-referencing) that differ across cultures. In a sample of 56 Chinese students studying in the US, we found that greater acculturation to the US was associated with a larger behavioral self-reference effect, contrasted by a smaller neural self-reference effect (late frontal positivity and late positive potential). However, results provide mixed support for cognitive differences with acculturation being due to one's processing of the self and changes in one's neural response to the degree of self-relatedness of information. Instead, we posit the potential for level of effortful processing, or the level of effort put forth to engage in a strategy, as a mechanism for culture's influence on memory strategy usage. Future research should explore these associations, including measuring change in EEG/ERP measures longitudinally over the course of the acculturation process.