University of Dundee Metacognition Lecture Notes PDF

University of the Year for Student Experience (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020) Metacognition Dr Chris Benwell 2023 dundee.ac.uk...

University of the Year for Student Experience (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020) Metacognition Dr Chris Benwell 2023 dundee.ac.uk Page 1 Metacognition - Lecture Series 1. Introduction to metacognition 2. Measuring metacognition 3. Metacognition and psychopathology 4. Metacognition and belief structures 5. Neural correlates of metacognition 6. Evolution and metacognition in other species 7. Presentations/discussions 8. Metacognition and consciousness 9. Improving metacognition 10. The limits of self-knowledge dundee.ac.uk Page 2 Metacognition – Assessment Level 4 Coursework: 1 x 2500-word assignment due on Wednesday November 13th. We will dedicate part of the session in week 5 (beginning 14/10)) to preparation for the assignment. Describe and critically evaluate two studies which suggest that relationships exist between metacognition and other psychological traits such as belief structures and/or dimensions of psychopathology. Level 4 Exam: 2 hour, on-campus exam at end of semester. Worth 60% of module grade. Level 5 Coursework: 2 x 2500-word assignments, each worth 50% of the module grade: 1st assignment due: Friday 15th November (12 noon) 2nd assignment due: Friday 29th November (12 noon) dundee.ac.uk Page 3 What to study? (1) Lecture notes (2) I will upload relevant papers for each lecture to the module page on MyDundee. (3) Any questions/concerns: [email protected] dundee.ac.uk Page 4 Neural correlates of metacognition What regions and activity patterns of the brain are involved in metacognition? dundee.ac.uk Page 5 Neural correlates of metacognition What regions and activity patterns of the brain are involved in metacognition? This question has been investigated using a mixture of research techniques: dundee.ac.uk Page 6 Neural correlates of metacognition What regions and activity patterns of the brain are involved in metacognition? This question has been investigated using a mixture of research techniques: → Lesion studies dundee.ac.uk Page 7 Neural correlates of metacognition What regions and activity patterns of the brain are involved in metacognition? This question has been investigated using a mixture of research techniques: → Lesion studies → Neuroimaging → fMRI dundee.ac.uk Page 8 Neural correlates of metacognition What regions and activity patterns of the brain are involved in metacognition? This question has been investigated using a mixture of research techniques: → Lesion studies → Neuroimaging → fMRI → EEG/MEG dundee.ac.uk Page 9 Neural correlates of metacognition What regions and activity patterns of the brain are involved in metacognition? This question has been investigated using a mixture of research techniques: → Lesion studies → Neuroimaging → fMRI → EEG/MEG → Combined fMRI/EEG dundee.ac.uk Page 10 Neural correlates of metacognition What regions and activity patterns of the brain are involved in metacognition? This question has been investigated using a mixture of research techniques: → Lesion studies → Neuroimaging → fMRI → EEG/MEG → Combined fMRI/EEG → Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) dundee.ac.uk Page 11 Lesion studies Evidence that metacognitive abilities depend on brain function initially came from neuropsychological studies of traumatic brain injury patients with lesions in specific regions. dundee.ac.uk Page 12 Lesion studies Evidence that metacognitive abilities depend on brain function initially came from neuropsychological studies of traumatic brain injury patients with lesions in specific regions. → In cases of injury to the frontal lobes, individuals often show deficits in self- knowledge of altered cognition and personality (Schmitz et al., 2006). dundee.ac.uk Page 13 Lesion studies Evidence that metacognitive abilities depend on brain function initially came from neuropsychological studies of traumatic brain injury patients with lesions in specific regions. → In cases of injury to the frontal lobes, individuals often show deficits in self- knowledge of altered cognition and personality (Schmitz et al., 2006). → Deficits in prospective metacognitive judgements have been linked to medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) damage, whereas deficits in retrospective metacognitive accuracy have been associated with lateral PFC damage (see Fleming & Dolan, 2012 for review). dundee.ac.uk Page 14 Lesion studies Evidence that metacognitive abilities depend on brain function initially came from neuropsychological studies of traumatic brain injury patients with lesions in specific regions. → In cases of injury to the frontal lobes, individuals often show deficits in self- knowledge of altered cognition and personality (Schmitz et al., 2006). → Deficits in prospective metacognitive judgements have been linked to medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) damage, whereas deficits in retrospective metacognitive accuracy have been associated with lateral PFC damage (see Fleming & Dolan, 2012 for review). dundee.ac.uk Page 15 Lesion studies Fleming et al., (2014) compared metacognitive accuracy in patients with lesions to the anterior prefrontal cortex (n = 7) to a healthy control group and a group of patents with temporal lobe lesions. dundee.ac.uk Page 16 Lesion studies Fleming et al., (2014) compared metacognitive accuracy in patients with lesions to the anterior prefrontal cortex (n = 7) to a healthy control group and a group of patents with temporal lobe lesions. dundee.ac.uk Page 17 (f)MRI studies Magnetic Resonance Imagine allows us to study both the structure and function of the brain. Functional MRI measures blood flow in the brain using the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast technique. This means that brain activity can be picked up by the MRI scanner because of tiny chemical changes in the blood. Good spatial resolution, poor temporal resolution. dundee.ac.uk Page 18 (f)MRI studies Structural MRI: Fleming et al., (2010) dissociated variation in metacognitive ability from objective performance in a simple perceptual-decision task, and determined whether this interindividual variability was associated with differences in brain structure (grey matter and white matter). dundee.ac.uk Page 19 (f)MRI studies Structural MRI: Fleming et al., (2010) dissociated variation in metacognitive ability from objective performance in a simple perceptual-decision task, and determined whether this interindividual variability was associated with differences in brain structure (grey matter and white matter). dundee.ac.uk Page 20 (f)MRI studies Metacognitive ability correlated with gray matter volume in the anterior prefrontal cortex. dundee.ac.uk Page 21 (f)MRI studies Moreover, metacognitive ability also correlated with white-matter microstructure connected with this area of the prefrontal cortex (anterior corpus callosum) dundee.ac.uk Page 22 (f)MRI studies Functional MRI: Fleming et al., (2012) investigated which brain regions were activated when participants made metacognitive reports. dundee.ac.uk Page 23 (f)MRI studies Functional MRI: Fleming et al., (2012) investigated which brain regions were activated when participants made metacognitive reports. dundee.ac.uk Page 24 (f)MRI studies Functional MRI: Fleming et al., (2012) investigated which brain regions were activated when participants made metacognitive reports. dundee.ac.uk Page 25 (f)MRI studies dundee.ac.uk Page 26 (f)MRI studies Vaccaro & Fleming (2018) conducted a meta-analysis of 47 (f)MRI studies investigating neural correlates of metacognition. dundee.ac.uk Page 27 (f)MRI studies Vaccaro & Fleming (2018) conducted a meta-analysis of 47 (f)MRI studies investigating neural correlates of metacognition. dundee.ac.uk Page 28 (f)MRI studies Vaccaro & Fleming (2018) conducted a meta-analysis of 47 (f)MRI studies investigating neural correlates of metacognition. dundee.ac.uk Page 29 (f)MRI studies Domain general v domain specific metacognition: Morales et al., (2018) investigated whether metacognition relies on a domain-general neural resource that is applied to different tasks or if neural self-evaluative processes are domain specific dundee.ac.uk Page 30 (f)MRI studies Domain general v domain specific metacognition: Morales et al., (2018) investigated whether metacognition relies on a domain-general neural resource that is applied to different tasks or if neural self-evaluative processes are domain specific dundee.ac.uk Page 31 (f)MRI studies Domain general v domain specific metacognition: The activity patterns underlying confidence ratings in perception and memory were largely overlapping dundee.ac.uk Page 32 (f)MRI studies Domain general v domain specific metacognition: However, multivariate decoding analysis provided evidence that perceptual- and memory-specific metacognitive representations coexist with generic confidence signals dundee.ac.uk Page 33 (f)MRI studies Domain general v domain specific metacognition: In particular, domain-general metacognitive signals were identified in the ventromedial PFC. dundee.ac.uk Page 34 EEG dundee.ac.uk Page 35 EEG/fMRI Gherman & Philiastides (2018) employed simultaneous EEG and fMRI to explore the neural correlates of metacognition with both high spatial and temporal resolution. dundee.ac.uk Page 36 EEG/fMRI Gherman & Philiastides (2018) employed simultaneous EEG and fMRI to explore the neural correlates of metacognition with both high spatial and temporal resolution. dundee.ac.uk Page 37 EEG/fMRI They identified an EEG signal which scaled positively with decision confidence starting around 400-500 milliseconds post-stimulus. dundee.ac.uk Page 38 EEG/fMRI The confidence-related EEG signature was shown to mainly originate in ventromedial PFC. dundee.ac.uk Page 39 EEG dundee.ac.uk Page 40 EEG We investigated whether EEG correlates of decision confidence are domain- general or domain-specific. dundee.ac.uk Page 41 EEG We investigated whether EEG correlates of decision confidence are domain- general or domain-specific. → N = 25 participants completing 2 separate sessions. dundee.ac.uk Page 42 EEG We investigated whether EEG correlates of decision confidence are domain- general or domain-specific. → N = 25 participants completing 2 separate sessions. → ~800-900 trials per participant per task dundee.ac.uk Page 43 EEG We investigated whether EEG correlates of decision confidence are domain- general or domain-specific. → N = 25 participants completing 2 separate sessions. → ~800-900 trials per participant per task dundee.ac.uk Page 44 EEG We investigated whether EEG correlates of decision confidence are domain- general or domain-specific. → N = 25 participants completing 2 separate sessions. → ~800-900 trials per participant per task dundee.ac.uk Page 45 EEG We investigated whether EEG correlates of decision confidence are domain- general or domain-specific. → N = 25 participants completing 2 separate sessions. → ~800-900 trials per participant per task dundee.ac.uk Page 46 EEG In both the perceptual and knowledge tasks, a late event-related potential (ERP) component predicted decision confidence on a trial-by-trial basis. dundee.ac.uk Page 47 EEG In both the perceptual and knowledge tasks, a late event-related potential (ERP) component predicted decision confidence on a trial-by-trial basis. → This effect replicated across two separate sessions, indicating it is highly reliable. dundee.ac.uk Page 48 EEG In both the perceptual and knowledge tasks, a late event-related potential (ERP) component predicted decision confidence on a trial-by-trial basis. → This effect replicated across two separate sessions, indicating it is highly reliable. → The component was similar in timing and topography to the vmPFC signal detected by Gherman & Philiastides (2018). dundee.ac.uk Page 49 EEG In both the perceptual and knowledge tasks, a late event-related potential (ERP) component predicted decision confidence on a trial-by-trial basis. → This effect replicated across two separate sessions, indicating it is highly reliable. → The component was similar in timing and topography to the vmPFC signal detected by Gherman & Philiastides (2018). → Hence, the vmPFC confidence signal appears to be domain-general. dundee.ac.uk Page 50 Neural correlates of metacognition There is a circuit in the prefrontal cortex which seems to support metacognitive evaluation. → PFC is particularly developed in humans relative to non-human animals. → There is evidence that anterior PFC exists at the top of a cortical ‘hierarchy’ and receives information from regions subtending lower-level cognitive functions. dundee.ac.uk Page 51 Neural correlates of metacognition Remember David Dunning quote from lecture 1? “In essence, we proposed that when it came to judgments of performance based on knowledge, poor performers would face a double burden. First, deficits in their expertise would lead them to make many mistakes. Second, those exact same deficits would lead them to be unable to recognize when they were making mistakes. This double-curse arises because, in many life domains, the act of evaluating the correctness of one’s (or anyone else’s) response draws upon the exact same expertise that is necessary in choosing the correct response in the first place. That is, in the parlance of psychological research, the skills needed to execute the meta-cognitive task of judging the accuracy of a response are precisely the same as those necessarily for the cognitive task of producing an accurate response.” David Dunning, 2011 dundee.ac.uk Page 52 Neural correlates of metacognition Dissociations between 1st-order performance and metacognitive evaluation (both in patients and healthy samples) have given rise to theories that metacognitive processes are likely to rely on (at least partially) independent brain mechanisms. dundee.ac.uk Page 53 What we don’t know → What are the computations underlying metacognitive judgements and how are they instantiated in the brain? 54 What we don’t know → What are the computations underlying metacognitive judgements and how are they instantiated in the brain? → Which other (potentially sub- cortical) brain regions are involved? 55 What we don’t know → What are the computations underlying metacognitive judgements and how are they instantiated in the brain? → Which other (potentially sub- cortical) brain regions are involved? → Might dysfunction in metacognitive circuits contribute to psychiatric symptoms? 56 What we don’t know → What are the computations underlying metacognitive judgements and how are they instantiated in the brain? → Which other (potentially sub- cortical) brain regions are involved? → Might dysfunction in metacognitive circuits contribute to psychiatric symptoms? → Can we modulate activity in these circuits to alter metacognition? 57  Any questions? dundee.ac.uk Page 58 Coursework As discussed in class, there is growing evidence that certain metacognitive styles may be associated with other important psychological traits including symptoms of psychopathology and the ways in which we perceive and process information. For this coursework assignment, you are asked to pick two relevant studies in this area, provide a brief outline of each and critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. I would recommend that you choose two of the studies which we have covered in class but if you believe there is a particularly interesting one which we haven’t covered then you are free to choose this also. Feel free to contact me if you are unsure about whether a study is appropriate or not. dundee.ac.uk Page 59 Coursework When critically evaluating the studies, some things that are likely to be worth considering include: whether the measures and the experimental design employed were appropriate for the research question. whether the population studied was appropriate and the sample size large enough. whether reported effect sizes are likely to have any real-world impact. whether the authors interpretations are justified based on the results. how does the study contribute to the wider relevant literature? limitations of the study and how these might be addressed in future studies. open questions and how they might be approached experimentally. dundee.ac.uk Page 60 Coursework Coursework Guidelines: This essay is worth 40% of your module grade (level 4 students, 50% for MScs). The essay should be a maximum of 2,500 words in length, and is due on Wednesday 13th November 2024, at 12pm (noon) (Friday 15th November for MScs). Please remember that penalties are applied for late submission: see the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law late submission policy. dundee.ac.uk Page 61  Next week Evolution and metacognition in other species dundee.ac.uk Page 62 dundee.ac.uk What to study? References Fleming, S. M., & Dolan, R. J. (2012). The neural basis of metacognitive ability. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 367(1594), 1338-1349. Fleming, S. M., Ryu, J., Golfinos, J. G., & Blackmon, K. E. (2014). Domain-specific impairment in metacognitive accuracy following anterior prefrontal lesions. Brain, 137(10), 2811-2822. Fleming, S. M., Weil, R. S., Nagy, Z., Dolan, R. J., & Rees, G. (2010). Relating introspective accuracy to individual differences in brain structure. Science, 329(5998), 1541-1543. Morales, J., Lau, H., & Fleming, S. M. (2018). Domain-general and domain-specific patterns of activity supporting metacognition in human prefrontal cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 38(14), 3534-3546. Gherman, S., & Philiastides, M. G. (2018). Human VMPFC encodes early signatures of confidence in perceptual decisions. Elife, 7, e38293. Schmitz, T. W., Rowley, H. A., Kawahara, T. N., & Johnson, S. C. (2006). Neural correlates of self- evaluative accuracy after traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychologia, 44(5), 762-773. Vaccaro, A. G., & Fleming, S. M. (2018). Thinking about thinking: a coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies of metacognitive judgements. Brain and neuroscience advances, 2, 2398212818810591. dundee.ac.uk Page 64