During both pre and post selfie manipulation and auditory startle tasks,
an (EEG) was recorded using a 14-channel EEG wireless headset. This helped in measuring ERPs (event-related potentials) to auditory stimuli, including the P3 components at frontal electrodes.

Pepperdine University

There were a total of 77 participants (18 male, 59 female). They were fitted with a 14-electrode, quick application EEG headset. 

Participants answered several personality questionnaires, including the narcissistic personality inventory (NPI). Participants were randomly
assigned to one of three picture viewing conditions: a selfie with likes condition, a selfie only condition (view a “selfie” with no feedback), and neutral picture condition (neutral picture; control condition). This was before and after completing a auditory startle task, which was an ERP (event-related potentials) component that reflects emotional arousal and is sensitive to psychological distress.

Methods and Procedure

Nash, K., Johansson, A., & Yogeeswaran, K. (2019). Social Media approval reduces emotional arousal for people high in narcissism: Electrophysiological evidence. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13, 292.

Reference for Social Media Approval Reduces Emotional Arousal for People High in Narcissism: Electrophysiological Evidence

All participants firs experienced a negative emotional event of social exclusion via the Cyberball task.

The Cyberball Paradigm had the participants believe that they were playing a virtual game of catch with two other “real” players. 

All participants experienced Cyberball exclusion. Participants were initially included in the virtual game of catch (first 6 passes) but were then excluded from passes from the other two players for the remainder of the game (the remaining 19 passes), thus receiving the ball only 8% of the time.

Past research shows that Cyberball exclusion causes heightened
negative affect and defensive behavior. Narcissists are particularly vulnerable to this experience, demonstrating increased activation in the putative social pain network and increased defensiveness.

Procedure - continued: social exclusion using the Cyberball Paradigm

After exclusion, participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: the selfie with "likes" condition, the selfie only condition (view a “selfie” with no feedback), or the neutral picture (control) condition.

In the selfie with "likes" condition, participants took a pictures of themselves and were shown how to get high exposure on Instagram, and were given time to take and edit a “selfie” on their phones. While they could observe how many likes they received, in reality, a transparent
screen developed for the study was opened that generated an increased amount of fake "likes".

In the selfie only condition, participants uploaded a new “selfie” to their Instagram account following the same procedure. However, upon uploading the "selfie,” no feedback nor “likes” were provided.

In the neutral picture condition, participants did not take or upload a “selfie” to Instagram. Instead, these participants observed a picture of gravel on a dummy Instagram account before moving on to the next task. A picture of gravel was used to ensure that participants did not find the experience rewarding or reflect upon the self. 

This helped to determine if any effect on P3a (which reflects emotional
arousal and is sensitive to psychological distress) are due to the “likes” themselves, or merely viewing a picture of the self.

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