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Mental models use common neural spatial structure for spatial and abstract content.

Katherine L Alfred1, Andrew C Connolly2, Joshua S Cetron3

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Neural representations of mental models in transitive reasoning are not content-specific. This cognitive framework relies on a frontoparietal network, regardless of whether information is visuospatial or abstract.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Mental models aid information organization and reasoning.
  • Transitive reasoning studies often use spatial stimuli, raising questions about content specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test if neural representations of mental models in transitive reasoning are independent of stimulus content.
  • To investigate the role of the frontoparietal network in abstract and visuospatial reasoning.

Main Methods:

  • Multivariate representational similarity analysis (RSA).
  • Examined neural patterns during the generation of mental models from inferred relationships.
  • Used stimuli ranging from visuospatial to abstract content.

Main Results:

  • Representational patterns of mental models were found in the superior parietal lobule and anterior prefrontal cortex.
  • These neural patterns converged across different stimulus types (visuospatial and abstract).

Conclusions:

  • Transitive reasoning using mental models engages a frontoparietal network irrespective of content.
  • Neural mechanisms supporting spatial cognition are crucial for abstract reasoning, supporting a domain-general role.