Distinct Cognitive Processes Research Articles

The Evolution of Simplifying Heuristics in Visual Cognition: Categorization, Specialization, and Visual Illusions.

Animals live in visually complex environments. As a result, visual systems have evolved mechanisms that simplify visual processing and allow animals to focus on the information that is most relevant to adaptive decision making. This review explores two key mechanisms that animals use to efficiently process visual information: categorization and specialization. Categorization occurs when an animal's perceptual system sorts continuously varying stimuli into a set of discrete categories. Specialization occurs when particular classes of stimuli are processed using distinct cognitive operations that are not used for other classes of stimuli. We also describe a nonadaptive consequence of simplifying heuristics: visual illusions, where visual perception consistently misleads the viewer about the state of the external world or objects within it. We take an explicitly comparative approach by exploring similarities and differences in visual cognition across human and nonhuman taxa. Considering areas of convergence and divergence across taxa provides insight into the evolution and function of visual systems and associated perceptual strategies.

Number and domain both affect the relation between executive function and mathematics achievement: A study of children's executive function with and without numbers.

Magnitude processing and executive functions (EFs) have emerged as robust predictors of mathematics achievement. However, the nature of these associations is still unclear. For example, it is uncertain if EFs applied in the context of domain-specific mathematical cognition (i.e., EFs applied while processing numbers) are more closely related to mathematics achievement than EFs applied in nonnumerical, domain-general contexts. Also, how distinct EF domains-that is, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility-and contents-that is, numerical versus nonnumerical-moderate the association between magnitude processing and mathematics achievement has not been fully understood. To address these issues, we investigated how magnitude processing, EFs applied to nonnumerical and numerical task stimuli, and their interactions were associated with mathematics achievement. Three hundred fifty-nine Brazilian third- to fifth-grade (8-10 years old) students completed measures of working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility with numerical and nonnumerical task versions, nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude comparison, and mathematics achievement. A series of regression models indicated that nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude processing are consistently associated with mathematics achievement, even when controlling for working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility measured with both numerical and nonnumerical contents. All EF measures were associated with mathematics achievement. However, cognitive flexibility measured with numerical content showed the strongest association. Results support the hypothesis that magnitude processing and EFs are uniquely associated with mathematics achievement. Furthermore, EFs measured with nonnumerical and numerical contents related differently to mathematics achievement, even when controlling for symbolic and nonsymbolic magnitude processing, suggesting they encompass somewhat distinct cognitive processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Attentional boost effect: research based on source memory and emotional materials.

The attentional boost effect (ABE) refers to the phenomenon that stimuli which appear with targets in a detection task are better remembered than those that appear with distractors. Previous studies have consistently reported a robust ABE in item memory, but inconsistent conclusions have been drawn for source memory. Additionally, regarding the impact of emotional stimuli on the ABE, conclusions have also been inconsistent. The aim of this research was to clarify these inconsistencies. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to memorize different emotional background words (primary task), monitor the symbols above the words, press the spacebar when encountering the "+" (secondary task), and remember the size of the emotional background stimuli (as a source feature). Results revealed that the ABE of negative stimuli was stronger in item memory. For source memory, an ABE was observed only for large fonts. In Experiment 2, participants performed the same task as in Experiment 1, except for recalling the color of emotional stimuli instead of their size. Results indicated a stronger ABE for emotional stimuli in item memory, with no ABE observed in source memory. These findings suggest: (1) Item and source memory are regulated by distinct cognitive processes, leading to differential effects of emotionality on ABE in both types of memory. (2) Contrary to previous literature, emotional stimuli, such as negative words, do not consistently diminish the ABE.

Preadolescent externalizing and internalizing symptoms are differentially related to drift-diffusion model parameters and neural activation during a go/no-go task

BackgroundMental health disorders are among the leading causes of disability in childhood and adolescence. Notably, mental health disorders commonly co-occur, indicating that critical mechanisms may relate to multiple forms of psychopathology. One potential transdiagnostic mechanism that has been examined in youth is inhibitory control. However, previous neuroimaging research on inhibitory control in youth has typically not examined transdiagnostic symptom dimensions or used computational modeling to quantify subcomponent processes that affect inhibition. MethodsIn the present study, a diverse sample of preadolescents who were oversampled for psychopathology risk (N = 86, ages 8–12) completed a Go/No-Go task during an fMRI scan. Parents completed a series of questionnaires that were used to capture externalizing and internalizing symptom dimensions. Drift-diffusion modeling (DDM) was applied to preadolescents’ task behavior, and model parameters were linked with neural activation using two contrasts: successful inhibition and failed inhibition. ResultsDuring successful inhibition, bilateral inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) activation was related to non-decision time, and ITG activation was associated with externalizing and internalizing symptoms. During failed inhibition, insula and putamen activation were associated with drift rates, as well as with internalizing symptoms, independent of externalizing symptoms. ConclusionsResults indicate that distinct cognitive processes are related to broader psychopathology symptom dimensions in preadolescents. Future studies should assess relations among computational parameters and clinical risk in youth, which may reveal important prevention and/or intervention targets.

Skillful and strategic navigation in soccer - a motor-cognitive dual-task approach for the evaluation of a dribbling task under different cognitive load conditions.

Soccer is a competitive sport that relies on distinct motor skills and cognitive processes. However, cognitive aspects are often overlooked, with a focus mainly on motor skills. Limited research has explored screening tests within motor-cognitive navigation dual-task (DT) paradigms. This study aims to validate a sensitive approach for assessing soccer-specific dribbling by evaluating the Trail-Dribbling Test (TDT) as a method to differentiate high-performance (HP) from low-performance (LP) players. Two hundred and seventy-five participants (41 females) aged between 12 and 34 completed the Trail-Making Test (TMT), the Trail-Walking Test (TWT), and the soccer-specific TDT under three levels of cognitive load. Results indicated shorter TDT durations for HP compared to LP players, with increased cognitive load accentuating differences (TDT-M: p = 0.044, d = 0.260; TDT-A: p < 0.001, d = 0.449; TDT-B: p < 0.001, d = 0.653). The TDT effectively discriminated between HP and LP players in the 14-15 (AUC = 0.712-0.820) and 16-17 age groups (AUC = 0.634-0.839). In conclusion, the ecologically valid TDT demonstrates the potential for quantifying soccer-specific dribbling, offering insights into motor and cognitive aspects of dribbling performance, especially among soccer players aged 14-17.

Relationships between Serotonin Transporter Availability and the Global Efficiency of the Executive Control Brain Network.

The diverse effects of serotonin on cognition may emerge from the modulation of large-scale brain networks that support distinct cognitive processes. Yet, the specific effect of serotoninergic modulation on the properties of these networks remains elusive. Here, we used a simultaneous PET-fMRI scanner combined with graph theory analyses to investigate the modulation of network properties by the Serotonin Transporter (SERT) availability measured in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). We defined global efficiency as the average mean of efficiencies over all pairs of distinct nodes of specific brain networks, and determined whether SERT levels correlated with the global efficiency of each network. SERT availability in the DRN correlated negatively with the global efficiency of the executive control brain network, which is engaged in cognitive control and directed attention. No relationship was observed between SERT availability and the global efficiency of the default mode or the salience brain networks. These findings indicate a specific role of serotoninergic modulation in the executive control brain network via a change in its global efficiency.

Conventionality matters in Chinese metaphor but not simile comprehension: evidence from event-related potentials.

Metaphor and simile, two prevalent forms of figurative language widely employed in daily communication, serve as significant research subjects in linguistics. The Career of Metaphor Theory in cognitive linguistics posits that as conventionality increases, the cognitive mechanisms of metaphor comprehension shift from "comparison" to "categorization." In line with this notion, prior electrophysiological investigations have revealed that novel metaphors elicit a stronger N400 brain response compared to conventional metaphors. However, the observed N400 difference between conventional and novel metaphors may merely stem from the familiarity contrast between them, as conventional metaphors are typically more familiar than novel ones. To address this dichotomy, the present study not only compared the N400 responses between conventional and novel metaphors but also between conventional and novel similes. While conventional and novel similes differ in familiarity, similar to conventional and novel metaphors, both are processed via "comparison" mechanisms. The results revealed that novel metaphors elicited larger N400 amplitudes compared to conventional metaphors, aligning with previous findings. In contrast, no significant N400 differences were observed between conventional and novel similes, suggesting that familiarity disparity is unlikely to account for N400 distinctions. Our findings imply that conventional and novel metaphors undergo distinct cognitive processing mechanisms ("comparison" versus "categorization"), thereby providing further empirical validation for the Career of Metaphor Theory.

Distinct neural markers of evidence accumulation index metacognitive processing before and after simple visual decisions.

Perceptual decision-making is affected by uncertainty arising from the reliability of incoming sensory evidence (perceptual uncertainty) and the categorization of that evidence relative to a choice boundary (categorical uncertainty). Here, we investigated how these factors impact the temporal dynamics of evidence processing during decision-making and subsequent metacognitive judgments. Participants performed a motion discrimination task while electroencephalography was recorded. We manipulated perceptual uncertainty by varying motion coherence, and categorical uncertainty by varying the angular offset of motion signals relative to a criterion. After each trial, participants rated their desire to change their mind. High uncertainty impaired perceptual and metacognitive judgments and reduced the amplitude of the centro-parietal positivity, a neural marker of evidence accumulation. Coherence and offset affected the centro-parietal positivity at different time points, suggesting that perceptual and categorical uncertainty affect decision-making in sequential stages. Moreover, the centro-parietal positivity predicted participants' metacognitive judgments: larger predecisional centro-parietal positivity amplitude was associated with less desire to change one's mind, whereas larger postdecisional centro-parietal positivity amplitude was associated with greater desire to change one's mind, but only following errors. These findings reveal a dissociation between predecisional and postdecisional evidence processing, suggesting that the CPP tracks potentially distinct cognitive processes before and after a decision.

Relearning and remembering: A gradualist account

Relearning and remembering are usually seen as two distinct cognitive processes in contemporary philosophy of memory. In particular, relearning is sometimes regarded as a kind of memory error. This paper aims to address two questions. First, is relearning a kind of memory error? Second, how to draw a distinction (if any) properly between relearning and remembering? My answer to the first question is a conditional ‘yes’—it depends on whether relearning can be falsidical and whether metacognitive monitoring counts as a part of memory process. My answer to the second question appeals to a gradualist account, according to which the distinction between relearning and remembering is not an absolute yes-or-no affair, but a matter of degrees.

Modelling attention allocation and takeover performance in two-stage takeover system via a cognitive computational model: considering the role of multiple monitoring requests

Studies have demonstrated two-stage takeover systems’ feasibility and advantages. However, existing cognitive models mainly focus on simulating drivers’ performance in single-stage takeover systems, with limited insights into cognitive modelling of effects of monitoring requests (MRs) within two-stage takeover systems. This study constructed a cognitive computational model for two-stage takeover systems based on queueing network-adaptive control of thought rational (QN-ACTR) architecture. Our model aims to capture variations in drivers’ attention allocation and takeover performance resulting from different MR experiences. Five components, representing distinct cognitive processes, were designed to closely align with drivers’ behavioural patterns. This model was validated through an experiment using metrics such as percentage time in road-centre and takeover time. Results revealed significant concordance between the model predictions and experimental data, with R-squared ≥ 0.76, RMSE ≤ 0.41, and MAPE ≤ 15%. The findings of this work extended beyond the two-stage takeover system investigation to include human factor modelling.

Neurophysiological analysis of disadvantageous social inequity: Exploring emotional behavior changes and c-Fos expression in a male rat model

Humans and other animals exhibit aversive behavioral and emotional responses to unequal reward distributions compared with their conspecifics. Despite the significance of this phenomenon, experimental animal models designed to investigate social inequity aversion and delve into the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are limited. In this study, we developed a rat model to determine the effects of socially equal or unequal reward and stress on emotional changes in male rats. During the training session, the rats were trained to escape when a sound cue was presented, and they were assigned to one of the following groups: all escaping rats [advantageous equity (AE)], freely moving rats alongside a restrained rat [advantageous inequity (AI)], all restrained rats [disadvantageous equity (DE)], and a rat restrained in the presence of freely moving companions [disadvantageous inequity (DI)]. During the test session, rats in the advantageous group (AE and AI) escaped after the cue sound (expected reward acquisition), whereas rats in the disadvantageous group (DE and DI) could not escape despite the cue being presented (expected reward deprivation). Emotional alteration induced by exposure to restraint stress under various social interaction circumstances was examined using an open field test. Notably, the DI group displayed reduced exploration of the center zone during the open field tests compared with the other groups, indicating heightened anxiety-like behaviors in response to reward inequity. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased c-Fos expression in the medial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices, coupled with reduced c-Fos expression in the striatum and nucleus accumbens under DI conditions, in contrast to the other experimental conditions. These findings provide compelling evidence that rats are particularly sensitive to reward inequity, shedding light on the neurophysiological basis for distinct cognitive processes that manifest when individuals are exposed to social equity and inequity situations.

Investigating the neural substrate variations between easy and challenging creative association tasks during product design within an fMRI scanner

In practice, individuals strive to develop highly original and valuable creative products within specific limitations. However, previous functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies focused on divergent-thinking tasks without considering the "valuableness" of an idea. Additionally, different types of creative tasks (e.g., the easier association vs. the harder association task) may engage distinct cognitive processes. This study aimed to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms associated with different types of creative thinking, specifically focusing on the generation of the most original and valuable creative product within an fMRI scanner. Twenty-one college students participated in a block design study. During each trial, participants were instructed to draw the most original and valuable product inspired by a given figure. The findings revealed that, in comparison to the harder association task, the easier association task led to broader activation across multiple brain regions. However, this broader activation resulted in inefficient thinking and poorer creative performance. Notably, the orbitofrontal cortex exhibited activation across various creativity tasks and displayed connectivity with several seed brain regions, highlighting the importance of decision-making when only one original and valuable product design is allowed. Furthermore, the complex functional connectivity observed between different brain networks reflects the intricate nature of creative thinking. To conclude, widespread activation of brain regions does not necessarily indicate superior creativity. Instead, optimal creative performance within constraints is achieved through an efficient utilization of association for generating innovative ideas, inhibition for suppressing unoriginal ideas, and decision-making to select the most creative idea.

Prospective comparative study on enhancing geometrical mental representation and anatomical learning in medical students through modeling clay as an assessment tool.

While traditional anatomy education often emphasizes passive learning and rote memorization, it seldom employs constructivist theories that focus on active, hands-on experiences for effective learning. This study tests the hypothesis that tactile experiences with modeling clay enhance geometric mental representation more effectively than verbal descriptions. We examine the potential of clay modeling to reflect and evaluate students' mental representation of anatomical structures. Utilizing a prospective randomized, open, blind endpoint (PROBE) design, we engaged 36 participants divided into three groups: blind, visually impaired, and a control group. The primary outcome measure was the difference between post-touch score and pre-touch score, which gauged the efficacy of tactile intervention in enhancing the participants' capacity to mentally reconstruct a well-designed anatomical fiction structure. Scoring was executed using a double-blind double-evaluation methodology, positioning clay model reconstruction as both an objective reliable assessment and a pedagogical tool. The analysis demonstrated a pronounced improvement in mental representation of anatomical structures, particularly in spatial comprehension and detailed textural discernment, with the mean score soaring from 47.81 pre-touch to 85.09 post-touch. Distinct cognitive processing adaptations were evident across groups, with the blind group excelling in tactile acuity and the visually impaired group showing the most significant gains in spatial understanding post-intervention (Cohen's d = 2.74). The application of modeling clay as a tactile intervention tool can significantly improve the learning of anatomy among medical students. The study underscores the value of active, multisensory engagement and customized teaching strategies for effective anatomy education among this demographic.

Facial expression recognition: a novel approach to captcha design

Distinctive cognitive processes and analytical approaches are employed by humans and computers in the realm of emotion recognition, particularly when interpreting nuanced facial expressions. Leveraging these differences, we have engineered an advanced CAPTCHA system powered by a cutting-edge facial emotion recognition algorithm. This innovative CAPTCHA challenges users to replicate and align a specific facial expression with a reference image against a contextual backdrop. Following rigorous testing, we ascertained that the system exhibits less than a 1% susceptibility to security compromises. This method not only enhances the security mechanism of CAPTCHA but also introduces a more personalised interaction model, offering significant advantages for user groups such as the elderly. Through comprehensive user evaluations, we have confirmed that this CAPTCHA system surpasses traditional models in both recognition accuracy and processing velocity, demonstrating its substantial practical advantages.

The Neural Mechanism Underlying Differentiated In-Group Versus Out-Group Face Recognition and Memory, Identification, Empathy and Pro-social Behavior: Evidence from fMRI and ERP Studies.

In the context of perceiving individuals within and outside of social groups, there are distinct cognitive processes and mechanisms in the brain. Extensive research in recent years has delved into the neural mechanisms that underlie differences in how we perceive individuals from different social groups. To gain a deeper understanding of these neural mechanisms, we present a comprehensive review from the perspectives of facial recognition and memory, intergroup identification, empathy, and pro-social behavior. Specifically, we focus on studies that utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and event-related potential (ERP) techniques to explore the relationship between brain regions and behavior. Findings from fMRI studies reveal that the brain regions associated with intergroup differentiation in perception and behavior do not operate independently but instead exhibit dynamic interactions. Similarly, ERP studies indicate that the amplitude of neural responses shows various combinations in relation to perception and behavior.

Gamma oscillatory complexity conveys behavioral information in hippocampal networks

The hippocampus and entorhinal cortex exhibit rich oscillatory patterns critical for cognitive functions. In the hippocampal region CA1, specific gamma-frequency oscillations, timed at different phases of the ongoing theta rhythm, are hypothesized to facilitate the integration of information from varied sources and contribute to distinct cognitive processes. Here, we show that gamma elements -a multidimensional characterization of transient gamma oscillatory episodes- occur at any frequency or phase relative to the ongoing theta rhythm across all CA1 layers in male mice. Despite their low power and stochastic-like nature, individual gamma elements still carry behavior-related information and computational modeling suggests that they reflect neuronal firing. Our findings challenge the idea of rigid gamma sub-bands, showing that behavior shapes ensembles of irregular gamma elements that evolve with learning and depend on hippocampal layers. Widespread gamma diversity, beyond randomness, may thus reflect complexity, likely functional but invisible to classic average-based analyses.

Internal Representations Are Prioritized by Frontoparietal Theta Connectivity and Suppressed by alpha Oscillation Dynamics: Evidence from Concurrent Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation EEG and Invasive EEG.

Control over internal representations requires the prioritization of relevant information and suppression of irrelevant information. The frontoparietal network exhibits prominent neural oscillations during these distinct cognitive processes. Yet, the causal role of this network-scale activity is unclear. Here, we targeted theta-frequency frontoparietal coherence and dynamic alpha oscillations in the posterior parietal cortex using online rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in women and men while they prioritized or suppressed internally maintained working memory (WM) representations. Using concurrent high-density EEG, we provided evidence that we acutely drove the targeted neural oscillation and TMS improved WM capacity only when the evoked activity corresponded with the desired cognitive process. To suppress an internal representation, we increased the amplitude of lateralized alpha oscillations in the posterior parietal cortex contralateral to the irrelevant visual field. For prioritization, we found that TMS to the prefrontal cortex increased theta-frequency connectivity in the prefrontoparietal network contralateral to the relevant visual field. To understand the spatial specificity of these effects, we administered the WM task to participants with implanted electrodes. We found that theta connectivity during prioritization was directed from the lateral prefrontal to the superior posterior parietal cortex. Together, these findings provide causal evidence in support of a model where a frontoparietal theta network prioritizes internally maintained representations and alpha oscillations in the posterior parietal cortex suppress irrelevant representations.

Cognitive effort assessment through pupillary responses: Insights from multinomial processing tree modeling and neural interconnections

The pupillary responses of humans exhibit variations in size, which are mediated by optic and oculomotor cranial nerves. Due to their sensitivity and high resolution of pupillary responses, they are used for a long time as measurement metrics of cognitive effort. Investigating the extent of cognitive effort required during tasks of varying difficulty is crucial for understanding the neural interconnections underlying these pupillary responses. This study aims to assess human cognitive efforts involved in visually presented cognitive tasks using the multinomial processing tree (MPT) model, an analytical tool that disentangles and predicts distinct cognitive processes, resulting in changes in pupil diameter. To achieve this, a pupillary response dataset was collected during mental multiplication (MM) tasks and visual stimuli presentations as cognitive tasks. MPT model describes observed response frequencies across various response categories and determines the transition probabilities from one latent state to the next. The expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is employed with MPT model to estimate parameter values based on response frequency within each category. Both group-level and individual subject-to-subject comparisons are conducted to estimate cognitive effort. The results reveal that in the group comparison and with respect to task difficulty level, that subject’s knowledge on MM task influences the successfully solve the problem. Regarding individual analysis, no significant differences are observed in parameters related to correct recall, problem-solving ability, and time constraint compliance. However, some significant differences are found in parameters associated with the perceived difficulty level and ability to recall the correct answers. MPT model combined with EM algorithm constitutes a probabilistic model that enhances pupillary responses identification related to the cognitive effort. Potential applications of this model include disease diagnostics based on parameter values and identification of neural pathways that are involved in the pupillary response and subject’s cognitive effort. Furthermore, efforts are underway to connect this psychological model with an artificial neural network.

Strengthening the Theoretical Foundations of Role Performance Theory

ABSTRACT This article aims to strengthen the theoretical edifice of role performance theory through appeal to recent advances in cultural theory. Role performance studies often assert that journalistic roles are fluid, contingent, situational and hybridic. Yet, In the large-scale surveys and content-analyses that dominate the literature, roles become more fixed than fluid, more over-determined than contingent. This disjuncture is caused, I argue, by under-theorization. Borrowing from contemporary cultural theory, I cast journalistic roles as schematic associations between cultural elements embedded in the field of journalism. Journalists internalize these elements via two distinct cognitive processes, one I label declarative and the other nondeclarative, and they do so from distinct positions within the field. This conception of role performance moves the field away from questions of beliefs and gaps between thinking and doing and toward those of perceptions, interpretations, motivations, and positionality. In so doing it offers a powerful explanation for how and why role-taking may be situational and dynamic and at the same time organized and patterned. To demonstrate the utility of this approach, I end the essay with a consideration of one of the literature’s most compelling empirical findings: that a persistent gap exists between role conception and role performance.

Disrupted social perception in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease – Associated cognitive processes and clinical implications

BackgroundSocial perception refers to the ability to adapt and update one's behaviour in accordance with the current context and provides the foundation for many complex social and emotional interactions. Alterations in social cognition are a hallmark of the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), yet the capacity for social perception in this syndrome remains unclear. MethodsWe examined social perception in 18 bvFTD and 13 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, in comparison with 17 healthy older controls, using a social perception task derived from the Dewey Story Test. Participants also completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and carers provided ratings of behavioural and neuropsychiatric changes. Results: Overall, bvFTD and AD performance diverged significantly from control ratings on the social perception task, however, no significant difference was found between patient groups. Standardised values relative to the mean control rating revealed considerable variability within the patient groups in terms of the direction of deviation, i.e., over- or under-rating the vignettes relative to healthy controls (range z-scores = −1.79 to +1.63). Greater deviation from control ratings was associated with more pronounced memory (p = .007) and behavioural (p = .009) disturbances in bvFTD; whilst social perception performance correlated exclusively with verbal fluency in AD (p = .003). ConclusionsSocial perception is comparably disrupted in bvFTD and AD, yet likely reflects the differential breakdown of distinct cognitive processes in each dementia syndrome. Our findings have important clinical implications for the development of targeted interventions to manage disease-specific changes in social perception in dementia.