Journal article
Decision-making conflict and the neural efficiency hypothesis of intelligence: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy investigation
NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.), v 109, pp 307-317
01 Apr 2015
PMID: 25625894
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Research on the neural efficiency hypothesis of intelligence (NEH) has revealed that the brains ofmore intelligent individuals consume less energy when performing easy cognitive tasks but more energy when engaged in difficult mental operations. However, previous studies testing the NEH have relied on cognitive tasks that closely resemble psychometric tests of intelligence, potentially confounding efficiency during intelligence-test performance with neural efficiency per se. The present study sought to provide a novel test of the NEH by examining patterns of prefrontal activity while participants completed an experimental paradigm that is qualitatively distinct from the contents of psychometric tests of intelligence. Specifically, participants completed a personal decision-making task (e.g., which occupationwould you prefer, dancer or chemist?) inwhich theymade a series of forced choices according to their subjective preferences. The degree of decisional conflict (i. e., choice difficulty) between the available response options wasmanipulated on the basis of participants' unique preference ratings for the target stimuli, which were obtained prior to scanning. Evoked oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex was measured using 16-channel continuous-wave functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Consistent with the NEH, intelligence predicted decreased activation of the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) during low-conflict situations and increased activation of the right-IFG during high-conflict situations. This pattern of right-IFG activity among more intelligent individuals was complemented by faster reaction times in high-conflict situations. These results provide new support for the NEH and suggest that the neural efficiency of more intelligent individuals generalizes to the performance of cognitive tasks that are distinct from intelligence tests. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Details
- Title
- Decision-making conflict and the neural efficiency hypothesis of intelligence: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy investigation
- Creators
- Stefano I. Di Domenico - University of TorontoAchala H. Rodrigo - University of TorontoHasan Ayaz - Drexel University, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health SystemsMarc A. Fournier - University of TorontoAnthony C. Ruocco - University of Toronto
- Publication Details
- NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.), v 109, pp 307-317
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 11
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000349971600028
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84922439944
- Other Identifier
- 991014878187604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Neuroimaging
- Neurosciences
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging