Contradictory reasoning network: An EEG and fMRI study

Contradiction is a cornerstone of human rationality, essential for everyday life and communication. We investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in separate recording sessions during contradictory judgments, using a logical structure based on categorical propositions of the Aristotelian Square of Opposition (ASoO). The use of ASoO propositions, while controlling for potential linguistic or semantic confounds, enabled us to observe the spatial temporal unfolding of this contradictory reasoning. The processing started with the inversion of the logical operators corresponding to right middle frontal gyrus (rMFG-BA11) activation, followed by identification of contradictory statement associated with in the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG-BA47) activation. Right medial frontal gyrus (rMeFG, BA10) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC, BA32) contributed to the later stages of process. We observed a correlation between the delayed latency of rBA11 response and the reaction time delay during inductive vs. deductive reasoning. This supports the notion that rBA11 is crucial for manipulating the logical operators. Slower processing time and stronger brain responses for inductive logic suggested that examples are easier to process than general principles and are more likely to simplify communication. © 2014 Porcaro et al.

Tipo Pubblicazione: 
Articolo
Author or Creator: 
Porcaro, Camillo
Medaglia, Maria Teresa
Thai, Ngoc Jade
Seri, Stefano S.
Rotshtein, Pia
Tecchio, Franca
Publisher: 
Public Library of Science, San Francisco, CA , Stati Uniti d'America
Source: 
PloS one 9 (2014). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092835
info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Porcaro, Camillo; Medaglia, Maria Teresa; Thai, Ngoc Jade; Seri, Stefano S.; Rotshtein, Pia; Tecchio, Franca/titolo:Contradictory reasoning network: An EEG and fMRI study/doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092835/rivista:PloS one/anno:20
Date: 
2014
Resource Identifier: 
http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/295864
https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0092835
info:doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092835
http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-84899876536&origin=inward
Language: 
Eng
ISTC Author: 
Ritratto di Franca Tecchio
Real name: