Modeling of individuality in human cognition and its neurological basis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Integrative research toward elucidation of generative brain systems for individuality
• Project/Area Number: 16H06526
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Complex systems
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Wakabayashi Akio 千葉大学, 大学院人文科学研究院, 名誉教授 (30175062)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 瀧 靖之 東北大学, スマート・エイジング学際重点研究センター, 教授 (10375115)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-06-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 個性 / 個人差 / 認知スタイル / 脳構造 / 脳の皮質血流 / MRI / fNIRS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A database of main individual difference measures was created and a multidimensional analysis of the relationship between these individual difference indicators and brain imaging data from MRI was conducted. In the association between the main psychological individual differences and brain structures, statistically significant associations with several brain structures was found with cognitive styles. In the Eye-gaze Simon task, which used eye gaze-like graphic stimuli and non-gaze stimuli, the results showed that individual differences in cognitive styles were associated with differences in task performance (reaction time, percentage correct) and cortical blood flow status. The results showed a certain pattern of correspondence between task performance (reaction time and percentage of correct responses) and cortical blood flow status in the Eye-gaze Simon task using eye- and gaze-like graphic stimuli and non-gaze stimuli.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

心理的・行動的特徴に表れる個人差は，知的能力，パーソナリティ，認知スタイルなど多面的に表れるが，この中で認知スタイル（能力や興味の指向性，得意不得意に関係する）は，MRIで測定した脳の構造的特徴と一定の対応関係があることがわかった。これは，認知スタイル上の個人差の基礎に，脳の構造的(解剖学的）差異が関わっていることを示唆している。また，他者の視線の認知処理課題を行って入るとき，認知スタイルの違いによって脳の皮質血流が増加する部位（活性化する部位）に違いがあることがわかった。以上の結果は，認知スタイルの違いが脳に起因していることを示している。