Reasoning and Problem-Solving Flashcards
fluid reasoning (Gf)
ability to reason, problem-solve, and see patterns or relations among items
relational integration (RI)
- process by which 2+ relations are simultaneously considered and integrated
- cognitive ability to simultaneously process and integrate multiple relationships or connections between elements in a problem, task, or situation
Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM)
- tests fluid reasoning
- have to pick between 4 options and pick the one that fits in with the pattern in the matrices
- manipulate the # of relations you have to consider
- 0 = all identical objects
- 1 = objects differ by 1 dimension
- 2 = objects differ by 2 dimension
- the 2-relational problems have the lowest accuracy and lowest RT
RI and RLPFC (rostrolateral prefrontal cortex)
- found that RLPFC has the highest activity for 2-dimensional problems
- it is important for relational integration thinking
- the RLPFC is one of the last areas of the PFC to develop
Domain-general engagement of RLPFC in RI
- wanted to show that RLPFC doesn’t care about what you are relating
- tested relational integration for familiar objects and abstract pictures
- found no major difference in mean accuracy or RT between familiar and abstract
- they found increased activity in RLPFC for relational integration in both the abstract and familiar object conditions
- shows that the content doesn’t matter, only the fact that relational integration is occurring does
Anterior PFC (RLPFC) damage compromises RI
- compared percent correct on 1-relational and 2-relational problems between temporal lobe patients, frontal lobe patients, and typical controls
- found significant decline in % correct for 2-relational problems in frontal lobe patients
Developmental differences in RLPFC engagement (behavioural)
- main effect of age for accuracy
- adults do better than children
- largest difference in performance for 2-relational, children do significantly worse
-children tend to be slower than adults - both spend most time on 2-relational
Developmental differences in RLPFC engagement (brain activation)
- in adults, activity in RLPFC is significantly more for 2-relational problems
- in children, RLPFC activation is not significant or consistently higher for 2-relational
- adults seem to be able to turn on the RLPFC earlier and more reliably
Why do children perform more poorly on RI tasks? (Theory)
- children are more likely to act on prepotent response rather than reasoning decision
- can suggest that impairment in reasoning may have more to do with impulsivity rather than the actual ability to reason
- passive dissipation model
Passive dissipation model
certain behaviors or processes emerge naturally as a result of the passive dissipation of energy or other resources, rather than through active mechanisms
ie. reasoning emerges with ability to halt impulses
Linking age-related RI-ability changes to white matter
- older you are the better you seem to be at reasoning
- curvilinear relationship, most improvement happens earlier
- similar trajectory to the maturation of white matter
- suggests a connection between reasoning and the maturation of white matter
LSAT preparation can improve reasoning
- helps them perform better on the logic and reasoning part of the LSAT
- also saw significant improvement in accuracy and decrease in RT for relational integration and reasoning tasks post LSAT training
LSAT and brain connectivity
- LSAT training can alter resting state of brain
- saw most change in the strengthening of connectivity in the RLPFC and parietal regions
- connections got stronger and tighter
hierarchy of control mechanisms
- has been suggested that there is a hierarchy of control within the PFC
- FPC seems to be at the top of the control hierarchy