Neurocognitive Mechanismus of Individual Differences: Genes, Brain, Personality and Cognition

尽管工作记忆是神经认知研究最多的领域之一，但对工作记忆容量和更高认知能力（智力，复杂问题解决）个体间差异的神经机制知之甚少。三个潜在的变异性来源可能有助于这些更高的认知能力：认知过程的组成部分的变异性，个性差异和多巴胺神经递质活性的变异性。本研究整合了这些目前大多互不相关的研究链，并探讨了它们之间的关系及其在神经认知水平上对更高认知的贡献。将从一个单一的大样本池中采集平行的fMRI和MEG/EEG数据，这些样本池是根据调节前额多巴胺浓度的基因的基因分型选择的。神经认知标志物（功能磁共振成像和MEG/EEG脑激活，区域间功能连接，形态测量）的认知组件的过程中，潜在的较高的智力能力将被隔离，然后相关的行为措施，较高的认知，人格，和COMT基因型使用多变量统计。这种神经认知个体间差异的方法将提供重要的见解，在健康成人的智力正常变异的生物学机制。此外，这项工作将为理解导致智力障碍的大脑疾病提供更好的神经认知基础。

Even though working memory is one of the most-investigated fields of neurocognition, neural mechanisms underlying inter-individual differences in working memory capacity and higher cognitive abilities (intelligence, complex problem solving) are poorly understood. Three potential sources of variability may contribute to these higher cognitive abilities: variability in component processes of cognition, personality differences, and variability of dopamine neurotransmitter activity. This research project integrates these at present mostly unconnected research strands, and explores their relations and their contribution to higher cognition at a neurocognitive level. Parallel fMRI and MEG/EEG data will be acquired from a single large pool of individuals selected based on genotyping of a gene that modulates prefrontal dopamine concentrations. Neurocognitive markers (fMRI and MEG/EEGbrain activation, interregional functional connectivities, morphometry) of cognitive component processes underlying higher intellectual abilities will be isolated and then related to behavioral measures of higher cognition, personality, and COMT genotype using multi-variate statistics. This neurocognitive inter-individual differences approach will provide important insights into the biological mechanisms underlying normal variability in intellectual abilities in healthy adults. In addition, this work will provide a better neurocognitive basis for understanding brain disorders that lead to intellectual impairments.