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Qiu S, Cheng X, Cheng Z, Cao J, Fan Z, Ding X. Physical effort modulates perceptual awareness judgment independent of level of processing. Conscious Cogn 2024; 124:103746. [PMID: 39182372 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2024.103746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have emphasized the association between action and perceptual awareness, suggesting that action-related information can contribute to perceptual awareness. Given that the Level of Processing (LoP) hypothesis proposes that the emergence of awareness depends on the level of stimulus processing, the current study examines whether action impacts perceptual awareness across different processing levels. In Experiment 1, participants identified target stimuli's color (low-level task) or category (high-level task) via mouse clicks, followed by visual awareness ratings. Experiment 2 replicated the tasks using hand-grip dynamometers. Results from Experiment 1 support the LoP theory, showing a more gradual emergence of awareness for low-level features and a more dichotomous emergence for high-level features. In Experiment 2, higher reported visual awareness ratings were observed at greater physical effort, regardless of task type. These results suggest that action-related information influences reported awareness of stimuli in the same way at low- and high-level stimulus processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiming Qiu
- Central China Normal University, School of Psychology,430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, 430079 Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaorong Cheng
- Central China Normal University, School of Psychology,430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, 430079 Wuhan, China
| | - Zelin Cheng
- Central China Normal University, School of Psychology,430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, 430079 Wuhan, China
| | - Jinjing Cao
- Central China Normal University, School of Psychology,430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, 430079 Wuhan, China
| | - Zhao Fan
- Central China Normal University, School of Psychology,430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, 430079 Wuhan, China.
| | - Xianfeng Ding
- Central China Normal University, School of Psychology,430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 430079 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, 430079 Wuhan, China.
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Nuiten SA, de Gee JW, Zantvoord JB, Fahrenfort JJ, van Gaal S. Pharmacological Elevation of Catecholamine Levels Improves Perceptual Decisions, But Not Metacognitive Insight. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0019-24.2024. [PMID: 39029953 PMCID: PMC11287790 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0019-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Perceptual decisions are often accompanied by a feeling of decision confidence. Where the parietal cortex is known for its crucial role in shaping such perceptual decisions, metacognitive evaluations are thought to additionally rely on the (pre)frontal cortex. Because of this supposed neural differentiation between these processes, perceptual and metacognitive decisions may be divergently affected by changes in internal (e.g., attention, arousal) and external (e.g., task and environmental demands) factors. Although intriguing, causal evidence for this hypothesis remains scarce. Here, we investigated the causal effect of two neuromodulatory systems on behavioral and neural measures of perceptual and metacognitive decision-making. Specifically, we pharmacologically elevated levels of catecholamines (with atomoxetine) and acetylcholine (with donepezil) in healthy adult human participants performing a visual discrimination task in which we gauged decision confidence, while electroencephalography was measured. Where cholinergic effects were not robust, catecholaminergic enhancement improved perceptual sensitivity, while at the same time leaving metacognitive sensitivity unaffected. Neurally, catecholaminergic elevation did not affect sensory representations of task-relevant visual stimuli but instead enhanced well-known decision signals measured over the centroparietal cortex, reflecting the accumulation of sensory evidence over time. Crucially, catecholaminergic enhancement concurrently impoverished neural markers measured over the frontal cortex linked to the formation of metacognitive evaluations. Enhanced catecholaminergic neuromodulation thus improves perceptual but not metacognitive decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn A Nuiten
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Willem de Gee
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jasper B Zantvoord
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Johannes J Fahrenfort
- Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology - Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Simon van Gaal
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Lapate RC, Heckner MK, Phan AT, Tambini A, D'Esposito M. Information-based TMS to mid-lateral prefrontal cortex disrupts action goals during emotional processing. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4294. [PMID: 38769359 PMCID: PMC11106324 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48015-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to respond to emotional events in a context-sensitive and goal-oriented manner is essential for adaptive functioning. In models of behavioral and emotion regulation, the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) is postulated to maintain goal-relevant representations that promote cognitive control, an idea rarely tested with causal inference. Here, we altered mid-LPFC function in healthy individuals using a putatively inhibitory brain stimulation protocol (continuous theta burst; cTBS), followed by fMRI scanning. Participants performed the Affective Go/No-Go task, which requires goal-oriented action during affective processing. We targeted mid-LPFC (vs. a Control site) based on the individualized location of action-goal representations observed during the task. cTBS to mid-LPFC reduced action-goal representations in mid-LPFC and impaired goal-oriented action, particularly during processing of negative emotional cues. During negative-cue processing, cTBS to mid-LPFC reduced functional coupling between mid-LPFC and nodes of the default mode network, including frontopolar cortex-a region thought to modulate LPFC control signals according to internal states. Collectively, these results indicate that mid-LPFC goal-relevant representations play a causal role in governing context-sensitive cognitive control during emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Lapate
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - M K Heckner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - A T Phan
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - A Tambini
- Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - M D'Esposito
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Martin A, Lane TJ, Hsu TY. DLPFC-PPC-cTBS effects on metacognitive awareness. Cortex 2023; 167:41-50. [PMID: 37523964 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroimaging and lesion studies suggested that the dorsolateral prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices mediate visual metacognitive awareness. The causal evidence provided by non-invasive brain stimulation, however, is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS Here we revisit a major figure discrimination experiment adding a new Kanizsa figure task trying to resolve whether bilateral continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) over these regions affects perceptual metacognition. Specifically, we tested whether subjective visibility ratings and/or metacognitive efficiency are lower when cTBS is applied to these two regions in comparison to an active control region. METHODS A within-subjects design including three sessions spaced by one-week intervals was implemented. In each session, every participant was administered bilateral cTBS to either prefrontal, control or parietal cortices. Two concurrent tasks were performed, a real and an illusory figure task, stabilising objective performance with use of an adaptive staircase procedure. RESULTS When performing the replicated task, cTBS was found insufficient to disrupt neither visibility ratings nor metacognitive efficiency. However, with use of Kanizsa style illusory figures, cTBS over the dorsolateral prefrontal, but not over the posterior parietal cortex, was observed to significantly diminish metacognitive efficiency. CONCLUSION(S) Real and illusory figure tasks demonstrated different cTBS effects. A possible explanation is the involvement of the prefrontal cortex in the creation of expectations, which is necessary for efficient metacognition. Failure to replicate previous findings for the real figure task, however, cannot be said to support, conclusively, the notion that these brain regions have a causal role in metacognitive awareness. This inconsistent finding may result from certain limitations of our study, thereby suggesting the need for yet further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Martin
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness (GIMBC), Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Timothy J Lane
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness (GIMBC), Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Center (BCRC), TMU-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness (GIMBC), Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Center (BCRC), TMU-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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Li Z, Dai W, Jia N. The difference between metacognition and mindreading: Evidence from functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1037085. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1037085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
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).
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Cai Y, Jin Z, Zhai C, Wang H, Wang J, Tang Y, Kwok SC. Time-sensitive prefrontal involvement in associating confidence with task performance illustrates metacognitive introspection in monkeys. Commun Biol 2022; 5:799. [PMID: 35945257 PMCID: PMC9363445 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03762-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Metacognition refers to the ability to be aware of one's own cognition. Ample evidence indicates that metacognition in the human primate is highly dissociable from cognition, specialized across domains, and subserved by distinct neural substrates. However, these aspects remain relatively understudied in macaque monkeys. In the present study, we investigated the functionality of macaque metacognition by combining a confidence proxy, hierarchical Bayesian meta-d' computational modelling, and a single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation technique. We found that Brodmann area 46d (BA46d) played a critical role in supporting metacognition independent of task performance; we also found that the critical role of this region in meta-calculation was time-sensitive. Additionally, we report that macaque metacognition is highly domain-specific with respect to memory and perception decisions. These findings carry implications for our understanding of metacognitive introspection within the primate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudian Cai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.,Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, 215316, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zhiyong Jin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.,Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, 215316, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Chenxi Zhai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Huimin Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.,NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, 200062, China.,Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, 200335, China
| | - Jijun Wang
- Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 200031, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yingying Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Sze Chai Kwok
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China. .,Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, 215316, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. .,Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, Shanghai, 200335, China.
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Ciston AB, Forster C, Brick TR, Kühn S, Verrel J, Filevich E. Do I look like I'm sure?: Partial metacognitive access to the low-level aspects of one's own facial expressions. Cognition 2022; 225:105155. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Di Luzio P, Tarasi L, Silvanto J, Avenanti A, Romei V. Human perceptual and metacognitive decision-making rely on distinct brain networks. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001750. [PMID: 35944012 PMCID: PMC9362930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceptual decisions depend on the ability to exploit available sensory information in order to select the most adaptive option from a set of alternatives. Such decisions depend on the perceptual sensitivity of the organism, which is generally accompanied by a corresponding level of certainty about the choice made. Here, by use of corticocortical paired associative transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol (ccPAS) aimed at inducing plastic changes, we shaped perceptual sensitivity and metacognitive ability in a motion discrimination task depending on the targeted network, demonstrating their functional dissociation. Neurostimulation aimed at boosting V5/MT+-to-V1/V2 back-projections enhanced motion sensitivity without impacting metacognition, whereas boosting IPS/LIP-to-V1/V2 back-projections increased metacognitive efficiency without impacting motion sensitivity. This double-dissociation provides causal evidence of distinct networks for perceptual sensitivity and metacognitive ability in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Di Luzio
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Luca Tarasi
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Juha Silvanto
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Alessio Avenanti
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Center for Studies and Research in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
Visual metacognition is the ability to evaluate one's performance on visual perceptual tasks. The field of visual metacognition unites the long tradition of visual psychophysics with the younger field of metacognition research. This article traces the historical roots of the field and reviews progress in the areas of (a) constructing appropriate measures of metacognitive ability, (b) developing computational models, and (c) revealing the neural correlates of visual metacognition. First, I review the most popular measures of metacognitive ability with an emphasis on their psychophysical properties. Second, I examine the empirical targets for modeling, the dominant modeling frameworks and the assumed computations underlying visual metacognition. Third, I explore the progress on understanding the neural correlates of visual metacognition by focusing on anatomical and functional studies, as well as causal manipulations. What emerges is a picture of substantial progress on constructing measures, developing models, and revealing the neural correlates of metacognition, but very little integration between these three areas of inquiry. I then explore the deep, intrinsic links between the three areas of research and argue that continued progress requires the recognition and exploitation of these links. Throughout, I discuss the implications of progress in visual metacognition for other areas of metacognition research, and pinpoint specific advancements that could be adopted by researchers working in other subfields of metacognition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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10
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Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Impaired Insight and Self-awareness in Substance Use Disorder. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2021; 8:113-123. [DOI: 10.1007/s40473-021-00240-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Balsdon T, Mamassian P, Wyart V. Separable neural signatures of confidence during perceptual decisions. eLife 2021; 10:e68491. [PMID: 34488942 PMCID: PMC8423440 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceptual confidence is an evaluation of the validity of perceptual decisions. While there is behavioural evidence that confidence evaluation differs from perceptual decision-making, disentangling these two processes remains a challenge at the neural level. Here, we examined the electrical brain activity of human participants in a protracted perceptual decision-making task where observers tend to commit to perceptual decisions early whilst continuing to monitor sensory evidence for evaluating confidence. Premature decision commitments were revealed by patterns of spectral power overlying motor cortex, followed by an attenuation of the neural representation of perceptual decision evidence. A distinct neural representation was associated with the computation of confidence, with sources localised in the superior parietal and orbitofrontal cortices. In agreement with a dissociation between perception and confidence, these neural resources were recruited even after observers committed to their perceptual decisions, and thus delineate an integral neural circuit for evaluating perceptual decision confidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarryn Balsdon
- Laboratoire des Systèmes Perceptifs (CNRS UMR 8248), DEC, ENS, PSL UniversityParisFrance
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles (Inserm U960), DEC, ENS, PSL UniversityParisFrance
| | - Pascal Mamassian
- Laboratoire des Systèmes Perceptifs (CNRS UMR 8248), DEC, ENS, PSL UniversityParisFrance
| | - Valentin Wyart
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles (Inserm U960), DEC, ENS, PSL UniversityParisFrance
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Dahl CJ, Wilson-Mendenhall CD, Davidson RJ. The plasticity of well-being: A training-based framework for the cultivation of human flourishing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:32197-32206. [PMID: 33288719 PMCID: PMC7768706 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014859117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Research indicates that core dimensions of psychological well-being can be cultivated through intentional mental training. Despite growing research in this area and an increasing number of interventions designed to improve psychological well-being, the field lacks a unifying framework that clarifies the dimensions of human flourishing that can be cultivated. Here, we integrate evidence from well-being research, cognitive and affective neuroscience, and clinical psychology to highlight four core dimensions of well-being-awareness, connection, insight, and purpose. We discuss the importance of each dimension for psychological well-being, identify mechanisms that underlie their cultivation, and present evidence of their neural and psychological plasticity. This synthesis highlights key insights, as well as important gaps, in the scientific understanding of well-being and how it may be cultivated, thus highlighting future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cortland J Dahl
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53703;
| | | | - Richard J Davidson
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53703;
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53719
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