The Neural Correlates of Cognition

The Neural Correlates of Cognition

By Dr Megan Jorgensen

Cognition refers to mental processes, such as thinking, understanding and learning. The scientific, systematic study of such functions is dubbed cognitive science.

Johnson and Johnson [In Press] wondered about the neural correlates of cognition. The authors divided cognition into ‘building blocks’ (Multiple-Entry Model – MEM) and studied it using neuroimaging techniques. Further, the researchers cite several cases from the literature where DLPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) activity was associated with one of the subprocesses. Other areas of the PFC (prefrontal cortex) have similarly been designated; logically, since the frontal lobe is the seat of executive function (a.k.a. cognitive control: impulse inhibition, planning, organizing, working memory, etc.).

In a few words, attentional control theory (Eysenck et al., 2007) predicts that anxiety hinders information processing, unless compensating strategies are used. In line with the theoretical construct, Ansari & Derakshan (2011) showed that high-anxious individuals exerted more cognitive effort than low-anxious subjects during a mixed antisaccade task, as evidenced by activity in the frontal lobe.

What is this young woman doing? One variant of psychological testing (projective tests) asks the subject to narrate a story based on a picture. Naturally, such an undertaking involves cognitive function. Image: Copyright © Elena

Furthermore, the neural correlates of inferring others' mental states are: superior temporal sulcus, temporoparietal junction, medial prefrontal cortex, temporal poles and precuneus (Wolf et al., 2010). Further, the authors decomposed Theory of Mind (ToM - the ability to infer other people's thoughts, motives and intentions) into subprocesses. Thus, the first component (face processing and recognition) recruits occipito-parietotemporal cortices, while the second component (verbal understanding) involves the temporal lobes, lateral prefrontal cortex and precuneus. Finally, the third part (self-reference) relies on the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and precuneus.

References:

• Ansari, T. L. & Derakshan, N. (2011). The neural correlates of cognitive effort in anxiety: Effects on processing efficiency. Biological Psychology, 86: 337-48.
• Eysenck, M. W., Derakshan, N., Santos, R. & Calvo, M. G. (2007). Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion, 7 (2): 336-53.
• Johnson, M. R. & Johnson, M. K. [In Press]. Toward characterizing the neural correlates of component processes of cognition. In Roesler, F., Ranganath, C., Roeder, B. & Kluwe, R. H. (Eds.), Neuroimaging and Psychological Theories of Human Memory. New York: Oxford Press.
• Wolf, I., Dziobek, I. & Heekeren, H. R. (2010). Neural correlates of social cognition in naturalistic settings: A model-free analysis approach. NeuroImage, 48: 894-904.

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