The Neural Basis of Metacognition

描述(申请人提供)：人类拥有监测和控制自己认知的有用能力，这一现象被称为元认知。这种能力对我们的意志感、自信和自我意识是必不可少的，这使元认知具有广泛的临床意义。功能磁共振成像(FMRI)和损伤研究表明，哪些特定的脑区可能对元认知过程起作用，但元认知的神经基础仍有待探索。这项建议的主要目的是阐明元认知的神经机制。为了做到这一点，现有的元认知行为范式将被改造成适合神经生理学的视觉眼动任务。第一个具体目标是检验新的元认知任务引发元认知行为的假设。将建立元认知行为的可操作性定义，并对心理物理结果进行分析，以确定它们是否符合既定标准。第二个具体目标是检验元认知过程可以在单细胞水平上表征的假设。在元认知任务的执行过程中，将从特定的皮质部位记录单个神经元的活动。在元认知功能磁共振研究的指导下，基于先前被认为对视觉、动眼运动和高级认知功能重要的皮质区域，将记录到来自额叶眼区(FEF)、背外侧前额叶皮质(DLPFC)和补充眼区(SEF)的单个神经元。关于这些皮质区域中可能出现的反应的类型的预测将得到检验。第三个具体目标是在元认知任务的执行过程中使用可逆失活来确定每个皮质区域的功能角色。本研究将有助于阐明元认知的神经基础，并为以后的元认知研究奠定基础。 公共卫生相关性：本文提出的研究将开始阐明元认知的神经基础，并将为未来的元认知研究提供基础。元认知缺陷与一系列的病理疾病有关，如精神分裂症、帕金森氏病和阿尔茨海默病。了解元认知的神经基础将有助于理解如何治疗此类疾病患者。目前，基于元认知的疗法也被用作治疗强迫症、创伤后应激障碍和改善智障人士学习的工具。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Humans possess the useful ability to monitor and control our own cognition, a phenomenon known as metacognition. This ability is essential to our sense of volition, confidence, and self-awareness, giving metacognition a broad clinical relevance. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and lesion studies suggest which particular brain regions may contribute to metacognitive processes, but the neural basis of metacognition remains to be explored. The primary goal of this proposal is to elucidate neuronal mechanisms underlying metacognition. To do this, existing metacognition behavioral paradigms will be adapted into a visual oculomotor task suitable for neurophysiology. The first specific aim is to test the hypothesis that the new metacognition task elicits metacognitive behavior. An operational definition of metacognitive behavior will be established, and psychophysical results will be analyzed to determine whether they meet the established criteria. The second specific aim is to test the hypothesis that metacognitive processes can be characterized at the single cell level. Single neuron activity will be recorded from specific cortical sites during performance of the metacognition task. Based on cortical regions previously established as important for visual, oculomotor, and higher cognitive functioning, and guided by metacognition fMRI studies, single neurons will be recorded from frontal eye field (FEF), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and supplementary eye field (SEF). Predictions will be tested regarding the types of responses likely to arise in each of these cortical regions. The third specific aim is to establish the functional roles of each of the cortical areas using reversible inactivation during performance of the metacognition task. This researched proposed herein will begin to elucidate the neural basis of metacognition, and will provide a foundation for future metacognition research. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The research proposed herein will begin to elucidate the neural basis of metacognition, and will provide a foundation for future metacognition research. Metacognitive deficits have been implicated in a range of pathologies, such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the neural basis of metacogntion will help understand how to treat patients with such disorders. Currently, metacognition-based therapies are also being used as a tool to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and to improve learning in mentally disabled individuals.