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Tokuhama-Espinosa T, Simmers K, Batchelor D, Nelson AD, Borja C. A Theory of Mental Frameworks. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1220664. [PMID: 37546472 PMCID: PMC10400359 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1220664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Problem-solving skills are highly valued in modern society and are often touted as core elements of school mission statements, desirable traits for job applicants, and as some of the most complex thinking that the brain is capable of executing. While learning to problem-solve is a goal of education, and many strategies, methodologies, and activities exist to help teachers guide the development of these skills, there are few formal curriculum structures or broader frameworks that guide teachers toward the achievement of this educational objective. Problem-solving skills have been called "higher order cognitive functions" in cognitive neuroscience as they involve multiple complex networks in the brain, rely on constant rehearsal, and often take years to form. Children of all ages employ problem solving, from a newborn seeking out food to children learning in school settings, or adults tackling real-world conflicts. These skills are usually considered the end product of a good education when in fact, in order to be developed they comprise an ongoing process of learning. "Ways of thinking" have been studied by philosophers and neuroscientists alike, to pinpoint cognitive preferences for problem solving approaches that develop from exposure to distinct models, derived from and resulting in certain heuristics used by learners. This new theory paper suggests a novel understanding of the brain's approach to problem solving that structures existing problem-solving frameworks into an organized design. The authors surveyed problem-solving frameworks from business administration, design, engineering, philosophy, psychology, education, neuroscience and other learning sciences to assess their differences and similarities. This review lead to an appreciation that different problem-solving frameworks from different fields respond more or less accurately and efficiently depending on the kinds of problems being tackled, leading to our conclusion that a wider range of frameworks may help individuals approach more varied problems across fields, and that such frameworks can be organized in school curriculum. This paper proposes that explicit instruction of "mental frameworks" may help organize and formalize the instruction of thinking skills that underpin problem-solving-and by extension-that the more such models a person learns, the more tools they will have for future complex problem-solving. To begin, this paper explains the theoretical underpinnings of the mental frameworks concept, then explores some existing mental frameworks which are applicable to all age groups and subject areas. The paper concludes with a list of five limitations to this proposal and pairs them with counter-balancing benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa
- Harvard University Extension School, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Connections: The Learning Sciences Platform, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Kristin Simmers
- Neag School of Education, CT Institute for Brain and Cognitive Science University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Danielle Batchelor
- Harvard University Extension School, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Allen Drew Nelson
- Harvard University Extension School, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Cynthia Borja
- Connections: The Learning Sciences Platform, Quito, Ecuador
- The Decision Lab, Independent Behavioral Science Research, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Raposo-Lima C, Moreira P, Magalhães R, Ferreira S, Sousa N, Picó-Pérez M, Morgado P. Differential patterns of association between resting-state functional connectivity networks and stress in OCD patients. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 118:110563. [PMID: 35569618 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder that is characterized by its complex pathophysiology and heterogenous presentation. Multiple studies to date have identified a variety of factors that are involved in the development of symptoms, but little is known about how these affect brain function. In this study, we have tried to understand how stress, one of the most studied risk factors for OCD, may influence resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) by comparing resting brain activity of OCD patients with healthy control subjects, while assessing self-reported levels of perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Seventy-five OCD patients and seventy-one healthy matched control subjects were enrolled in this study, where we used a data-driven, independent component analysis approach. Our results show differences in connectivity between patients and healthy controls involving the dorsal attention (DAN) and lateral visual networks, with patients presenting increased rsFC within the DAN and decreased rsFC within the lateral visual network. Moreover, connectivity in the anterior default mode (aDMN), dorsal attention and basal ganglia networks was associated with PSS scores in OCD patients. Specifically, rsFC within the DAN and aDMN was positively correlated with PSS scores, while the opposite was observed for the basal ganglia network. This study is the first to report such association between rsFC alterations and self-reported stress levels. Our findings are relevant in the context of OCD pathophysiology given evidence of functional dysconnectivity involving the same networks in previous OCD studies and the possible involvement of these changes in the generation of obsessions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Raposo-Lima
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal; Psychology Research Centre (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia Ferreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Maria Picó-Pérez
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro Morgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS-3Bs PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center - Braga, Braga, Portugal; Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal.
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Kuang C, Chen J, Chen J, Shi Y, Huang H, Jiao B, Lin Q, Rao Y, Liu W, Zhu Y, Mo L, Ma L, Lin J. Uncovering neural distinctions and commodities between two creativity subsets: A meta-analysis of fMRI studies in divergent thinking and insight using activation likelihood estimation. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:4864-4885. [PMID: 35906880 PMCID: PMC9582370 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The dual‐process theory that two different systems of thought coexist in creative thinking has attracted considerable attention. In the field of creative thinking, divergent thinking (DT) is the ability to produce multiple solutions to open‐ended problems in a short time. It is mainly considered an associative and fast process. Meanwhile, insight, the new and unexpected comprehension of close‐ended problems, is frequently marked as a deliberate and time‐consuming thinking process requiring concentrated effort. Previous research has been dedicated to revealing their separate neural mechanisms, while few studies have compared their differences and similarities at the brain level. Therefore, the current study applied Activation Likelihood Estimation to decipher common and distinctive neural pathways that potentially underlie DT and insight. We selected 27 DT studies and 30 insight studies for retrospective meta‐analyses. Initially, two single analyses with follow‐up contrast and conjunction analyses were performed. The single analyses showed that DT mainly involved the inferior parietal lobe (IPL), cuneus, and middle frontal gyrus (MFG), while the precentral gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), parahippocampal gyrus (PG), amygdala (AMG), and superior parietal lobe were engaged in insight. Compared to insight, DT mainly led to greater activation in the IPL, the crucial part of the default mode network. However, insight caused more significant activation in regions related to executive control functions and emotional responses, such as the IFG, MFG, PG, and AMG. Notably, the conjunction analysis detected no overlapped areas between DT and insight. These neural findings implicate that various neurocognitive circuits may support DT and insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyi Kuang
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawen Chen
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yafei Shi
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiyuan Huang
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bingqing Jiao
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiwen Lin
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyang Rao
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenting Liu
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhu
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Mo
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Ma
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiabao Lin
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,UMR 5229, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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Lin J, Chen Y, Xie J, Mo L. Altered Brain Connectivity Patterns of Individual Differences in Insightful Problem Solving. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:905806. [PMID: 35645749 PMCID: PMC9130958 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.905806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Insightful problem solving (IPS) attracts widespread attention in creative thinking domains. However, the neural underpinnings of individual differences in IPS are still unclear. The purpose of this research was to investigate inherent full-brain connectivity patterns at voxel-level in IPS. Sixty-two healthy participants were enrolled in the study. We used a voxelwise full-brain network measurement, degree centrality (DC), to depict the characteristics of cerebral network involved in individual differences in IPS. For each participant, we employed a chunk decomposition paradigm, using Mandarin characters as stimuli, to estimate the individual differences in IPS. Results showed that DC in the inferior frontal gyrus, and the middle frontal gyrus/precentral gyrus positively correlated with IPS, while the anterior cingulate cortex, and the brainstern/cerebellum/thalamus exhibited negative correlations with IPS. Using each cluster above as a seed, we performed seed-based functional connectivity analysis further. Results showed that IPS was mainly involved in the default mode network, containing the key regions of precuneus and medial prefrontal cortex. All in all, this research may shed new lights on understanding the neural underpinnings of individual differences in IPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabao Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Yajue Chen
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiushu Xie
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Mo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Mo,
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Lin J, Chen Y, Xie J, Cheng Q, Zou M, Mo L. Brain Structural Correlates of Dispositional Insight and the Mediation Role of Neuroticism in Young Adults. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:846377. [PMID: 35493951 PMCID: PMC9051366 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.846377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on the neural correlates of episodic insight have made significant progress in the past decades. However, the neural mechanisms underlying dispositional insight are largely unknown. In the present study, we recruited forty-four young, healthy adults and performed several analyses to reveal the neural mechanisms of dispositional insight. Firstly, a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) technique was used to explore the structural brain mechanisms of dispositional insight. We found that dispositional insight was significantly and negatively correlated with the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the left thalamus (TLM.L), right temporoparietal junction (TPJ.R), and left dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC.L). Secondly, we performed a seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis to complement the findings of VBM analysis further. The brain regions of TLM.L, DMPFC.L, and TPJ.R were selected as seed regions. We found that dispositional insight was associated with altered RSFC between the DMPFC.L and bilateral TPJ, between the TPJ.R and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, DMPFC.L, TPJ.L, right insula, and right cerebellum. Finally, a mediation analysis found that the personality of neuroticism partially mediated the relationship between the brain region of TLM.L and dispositional insight. These findings imply that dispositional insight has a specific functional and structural neural mechanism. The personality of neuroticism may play a pivotal role in the processes of dispositional insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabao Lin
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, South China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yajue Chen
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiushu Xie
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiuping Cheng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, South China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mi Zou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, South China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Mo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, South China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Mo,
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Corbo I, Casagrande M. Higher-Level Executive Functions in Healthy Elderly and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11051204. [PMID: 35268294 PMCID: PMC8911402 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11051204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a moderate decline in one or more cognitive functions with a preserved autonomy in daily life activities. MCI exhibits cognitive, behavioral, psychological symptoms. The executive functions (EFs) are key functions for everyday life and physical and mental health and allow for the behavior to adapt to external changes. Higher-level executive functions develop from basic EFs (inhibition, working memory, attentional control, and cognitive flexibility). They are planning, reasoning, problem solving, and fluid intelligence (Gf). This systematic review investigates the relationship between higher-level executive functions and healthy and pathological aging, assuming the role of executive functions deficits as a predictor of cognitive decline. The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA Statement. A total of 73 studies were identified. The results indicate that 65.8% of the studies confirm significant EFs alterations in MCI (56.8% planning, 50% reasoning, 100% problem solving, 71.4% fluid intelligence). These results seem to highlight a strong prevalence of higher-level executive functions deficits in MCI elderly than in healthy elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Corbo
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Roma Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy;
| | - Maria Casagrande
- Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica, Clinica e Salute, Università di Roma Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence:
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