Regional white matter variation associated with domain-specific metacognitive accuracy

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Metacognitive ability, the capacity to reflect on one's own cognition, is poorly understood.
• Existing research suggests metacognition might involve domain-specific neural substrates, with links to gray matter volume and functional connectivity in memory and perception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between white matter microstructure and individual differences in metacognitive accuracy across memory and perception domains.
• To determine if metacognitive capacity is domain-general or supported by distinct neural pathways.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) was used to measure white matter microstructure.
• Metacognitive accuracy was quantified for both perceptual decisions and memory retrieval.
• Correlational analyses examined the link between white matter properties and metacognitive accuracy.

Main Results:

• Metacognitive accuracy in perception and memory were found to be uncorrelated.
• Metacognitive accuracy for perceptual decisions was associated with white matter microstructure beneath the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
• Metacognitive accuracy for memory retrieval was linked to white matter microstructure in the inferior parietal lobule.

Conclusions:

• Metacognitive ability appears to be domain-specific, supported by distinct neural substrates.
• White matter microstructure plays a crucial role in mediating metacognitive accuracy in different cognitive domains.
• These findings advance our understanding of the neuroanatomical basis of metacognition.