Neuroanatomical correlates of self-awareness of highly practiced visuomotor skills

The difference between metacognition and mindreading: Evidence from functional near-infrared spectroscopy

The relationship between metacognition and mindreading was investigated by examining how well one can monitor their own learning (Self) compared to another person’s learning (Other). Here, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to systematically investigate the brain area activation during metacognition and mindreading. The evidence indicated that metacognition and mindreading are underpinned by distinct neural systems. Metacognition is associated with activation in brain regions important for memory retrieval, such as the fusiform gyrus, while mindreading is associated with activation in brain regions important for understanding and reasoning about others’ intentions, such as the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ).

Metacognition, cortical thickness, and tauopathy in aging

We investigated self-rating of cognitive task performance (self-appraisal) and the difference between self-rating and actual task performance (appraisal discrepancy) in cognitively healthy older adults and their relationship with cortical thickness and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, amyloid and tau. All participants (N = 151) underwent neuropsychological testing and 1.5T structural magnetic resonance imaging. A subset (N = 66) received amyloid-PET with [11C] PiB and tau-PET with [18F] Flortaucipir. We found that worse performers had lower self-appraisal ratings, but still overestimated their performance, consistent with the Dunning-Kruger effect. Self-appraisal rating and appraisal discrepancy revealed distinct relationships with cortical thickness and AD pathology. Greater appraisal discrepancy, indicating overestimation, was related to thinning of inferior-lateral temporal, fusiform, and rostral anterior cingulate cortices. Lower self-appraisal was associated with higher entorhinal and inferior temporal tau. These results suggest that overestimation could implicate structural atrophy beyond AD pathology, while lower self-appraisal could indicate early behavioral alteration due to AD pathology, supporting the notion of subjective cognitive decline prior to objective deficits.