fmri evidence for physical and social conditional reasoning brain modules
TRANSCRIPT
Sylvie Pelletier
YORK UNIVERSITY
Thesis Defense
December 07, 2011
Introduction
Objectives & Hypothesis
Research Design and Method
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Multiple Reasoning
Systems(Goel, 2007)
Dual-
system(Evans, 2003)
Mental
Model(Johnson-Laird & Byrne, 1991)
Mental
Logic (Rips, 1994)
Main EffectPrado et al (in press)
ContentGoel (2000)
DomainReverberi (2010); Canessa et al.
(2005)
Conditional Reasoning
Left posterior parietal cortex, Left
precentralgyrus, medial frontal
gyrus
Abstract/Non-Causal
Bilateral parietal-frontal pathway
Causal Left hemispheric frontotemporal
system
Physical:Left linguistic system
Social Right-hemispheric prefrontal cortex
Objectives:
Examine the neural substrates of conditional reasoning with various types of conditional content and causal conditional content with fMRI
Hypothesis:
1. Main effect:
I. Conditional reasoning: Bilateral fronto-temporo-parietal activation
(visuo-spatial/formal and syntactic/semantic processing)
II. Causal conditional reasoning: Left fronto-parietal activation
(syntactic/semantic processing)
2. Content effect:
I. Content reasoning: Left fronto-temporal activation(syntactic/semantic
processing)
II. Abstract reasoning: (visuo-spatial/formal processing)
3. Domain effect:
I. Physical reasoning: Leftfronto-temporal (syntactic/semantic processing)
II. Social reasoning: Right lateral prefrontal cortex, medial and superior
frontal, and parietal activation (social cognition)
CONTENTS (N=96)
TASKS
Reasoning Tasks
(n=80)
Causal (n=72) Abstract (n=24)
Physical-causal (n=24) Social-causal (n=48) If TTTTTT are KKKKKK, then YYYYYY are AAAAAA.
TTTTTT are KKKKKK,
YYYYYY are AAAAAA MP
(n=24)
If the brake is depressed, then the car will slow down.
The brake is depressed,
The car slows down
If Ray misses Wendy, then he will visit her.
Ray misses Wendy,
Ray visits Wendy
MT(n=24)
If the car is out of gas, then it will stall.
The car didn't stall,
The car wasn't out of gas.
If Vic pressures Jim, then Jim will be stressed.
Jim isn’t stressed,
Vic didn’t pressure Jim.
If JJJJJJ are EEEEEE, then NNNNNN are PPPPPP.
NNNNNN aren't PPPPPP
JJJJJJ aren’t EEEEEE.
AC(n=16)
If the key is turned, then the car will start.
The car starts,
The key was turned.
If Tim is charitable, then he will help the poor.
Tim helps the poor,
Tim is charitable.
If BBBBBB are TTTTTT, then VVVVVV are NNNNN.
VVVVVVV are NNNNNN,
BBBBBB are TTTTTT.
DA(n=16)
If it is raining, then the road will be wet.
It isn't raining,
The road isn't wet.
If Pam sees a stranger, then she will cry.
Pam doesn’t see a stranger,
She doesn't cry.
If RRRRRR are FFFFFF, then JJJJJ are TTTTTT.
RRRRRR aren't FFFFFF,
JJJJJJ aren't TTTTTTT.
Baseline Tasks
(n=16)
If the brake is depressed, then the car will slow down.
The foundation is cracked,
It rains
If Tim is charitable, then he will help the poor.
Joe loves Ann,
Amy hangs out with Ellen
If KKKKKK are YYYYYY, then OOOOOO are TTTTTT.
MMMMMM are KKKKKK
JJJJJJ are EEEEEE
Means and Standard Deviations on Measures of Response Times and Accuracy
Across 12 Participants
Content Effect (n=96) Domain Effect (n=72)
Causal (n=72)
Abstract (n=24)
Physical(n=24)
Social(n=48)
Scores (%)
MP n=24 99.65 (0.012) 100.00 (0.000) n=18 100.00 (0.000) 99.31 (0.0241)
MT n=24 87.50 (0.2344) 77.78 (0.2595) n=18 90.28 (0.2508) 84.72 (0.2243)
AC n=16 7.37 (0.2336) 11.11 (0.2312) n=12 6.25 (0.2165) 8.48 (0.2522)
DA n=16 12.15 (0.2707) 20.45 (0.2697) n=12 12.50 (0.3108) 11.81 (0.2415)
Baseline n=16 97.97 (0.0159) 93.75 (0.1131) n=12 100.00 (0.000) 97.97 (0.0159)
RT (ms)
MP n=24 1324 (324) 1317 (385) n=18 1302 (361) 1346 (356)
MT n=24 1682 (554) 1912 (754) n=18 1605 (627) 1759 (574)
AC n=16 1484 (471) 1703 (641) n=12 1358 (444) 1611 (616)
DA n=16 1506 (306) 1617 (676) n=12 1515 (322) 1497 (390)
Baseline n=16 1564 (649) 1735 (738) n=12 1431 (632) 1696 (683)
1. Main effect of conditional reasoning
2. Main effect of causal conditional reasoning
2. Interaction abstract > causal1. Interaction causal > abstract
3. Simple effect causal 4. Simple effect abstract
2. Interaction social > physical
1. Interaction physical > social
Main effect of conditional reasoning:
Right and left hemispheric activity in fronto-temporo-parietal
Integration of both syntactic language-based activity and visuo-spatial processing
Main effect of causal conditional reasoning:
Left frontoparietal activation left inferior frontal
Syntactic/semantic processing
Causal reasoning:
Left-lateralized activation of lateral frontal structures and structures near the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ).
Linguistic processing and semantic integration.
Abstract reasoning:
Right lateralized activation of occipito-parieto-temporal regions
Spatial manipulation and internal representation of symbols
Social reasoning:
Right lateralized activation of the inferior frontal gyrus and the insula.
Social cognition & empathy
Physical reasoning:
Left fronto-parietal activation
Non-social conditional reasoning structures
Lexico-semantic processing
Behavioral results
Poor accuracy for invalid forms
Confusing instruction
Use of force-choice responses (true or false):If the brake is depressed, then the car will slow down.
The car slows down
∴ The brake is depressed.
Reasoning is a fractionated cognitive system that relies on various neural pathways
Content
Domain
Future studies: Brain lesion studies