Brain Imaging and rTMS Studies of Individual Differences in Cognitive Processing.

摘要

This section has not changed since the previous report. The proposed research has the goal of understanding the brain system properties that underlie individual differences in cognitive performance and using this understanding to enhance performance of individuals and organizations. The proposed research will apply new leverage to this familiar problem using innovations in brain science from the past ten years that permit detailed noninvasive measurement of brain function, brain anatomy, and now the effect of magnetic brain stimulation, as they relate to cognitive performance. For example, the essence of fluid intelligence is the ability to adapt to a new task or problem. This ability cannot be characterized in simple behavioral terms such as 'speed of processing.' In the new brain systems view, fluid intelligence consists of the ability to dynamically configure a new network (team) of brain areas that can effectively collaborate to perform a new task. The individual differences in fluid intelligence, according to this view, are underpinned by differences in this dynamic ''network configuration** ability, which we call adaptability. This new approach, when used in the context of a suitable integrating theoretical framework, has the potential of determining the brain bases of individual differences in cognition.