Sylvie Pelletier

YORK UNIVERSITY

Thesis Defense

December 07, 2011

Introduction

Objectives & Hypothesis

Research Design and Method

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Multiple Reasoning

Systems(Goel, 2007)

Dual-

system(Evans, 2003)

Mental

Model(Johnson-Laird & Byrne, 1991)

Mental

Logic (Rips, 1994)

Main EffectPrado et al (in press)

ContentGoel (2000)

DomainReverberi (2010); Canessa et al.

(2005)

Conditional Reasoning

Left posterior parietal cortex, Left

precentralgyrus, medial frontal

gyrus

Abstract/Non-Causal

Bilateral parietal-frontal pathway

Causal Left hemispheric frontotemporal

system

Physical:Left linguistic system

Social Right-hemispheric prefrontal cortex

Objectives:

Examine the neural substrates of conditional reasoning with various types of conditional content and causal conditional content with fMRI

Hypothesis:

1. Main effect:

I. Conditional reasoning: Bilateral fronto-temporo-parietal activation

(visuo-spatial/formal and syntactic/semantic processing)

II. Causal conditional reasoning: Left fronto-parietal activation

(syntactic/semantic processing)

2. Content effect:

I. Content reasoning: Left fronto-temporal activation(syntactic/semantic

processing)

II. Abstract reasoning: (visuo-spatial/formal processing)

3. Domain effect:

I. Physical reasoning: Leftfronto-temporal (syntactic/semantic processing)

II. Social reasoning: Right lateral prefrontal cortex, medial and superior

frontal, and parietal activation (social cognition)

CONTENTS (N=96)

TASKS

Reasoning Tasks

(n=80)

Causal (n=72) Abstract (n=24)

Physical-causal (n=24) Social-causal (n=48) If TTTTTT are KKKKKK, then YYYYYY are AAAAAA.

TTTTTT are KKKKKK,

YYYYYY are AAAAAA MP

(n=24)

If the brake is depressed, then the car will slow down.

The brake is depressed,

The car slows down

If Ray misses Wendy, then he will visit her.

Ray misses Wendy,

Ray visits Wendy

MT(n=24)

If the car is out of gas, then it will stall.

The car didn't stall,

The car wasn't out of gas.

If Vic pressures Jim, then Jim will be stressed.

Jim isn’t stressed,

Vic didn’t pressure Jim.

If JJJJJJ are EEEEEE, then NNNNNN are PPPPPP.

NNNNNN aren't PPPPPP

JJJJJJ aren’t EEEEEE.

AC(n=16)

If the key is turned, then the car will start.

The car starts,

The key was turned.

If Tim is charitable, then he will help the poor.

Tim helps the poor,

Tim is charitable.

If BBBBBB are TTTTTT, then VVVVVV are NNNNN.

VVVVVVV are NNNNNN,

BBBBBB are TTTTTT.

DA(n=16)

If it is raining, then the road will be wet.

It isn't raining,

The road isn't wet.

If Pam sees a stranger, then she will cry.

Pam doesn’t see a stranger,

She doesn't cry.

If RRRRRR are FFFFFF, then JJJJJ are TTTTTT.

RRRRRR aren't FFFFFF,

JJJJJJ aren't TTTTTTT.

Baseline Tasks

(n=16)

If the brake is depressed, then the car will slow down.

The foundation is cracked,

It rains

If Tim is charitable, then he will help the poor.

Joe loves Ann,

Amy hangs out with Ellen

If KKKKKK are YYYYYY, then OOOOOO are TTTTTT.

MMMMMM are KKKKKK

JJJJJJ are EEEEEE

Means and Standard Deviations on Measures of Response Times and Accuracy

Across 12 Participants

Content Effect (n=96) Domain Effect (n=72)

Causal (n=72)

Abstract (n=24)

Physical(n=24)

Social(n=48)

Scores (%)

MP n=24 99.65 (0.012) 100.00 (0.000) n=18 100.00 (0.000) 99.31 (0.0241)

MT n=24 87.50 (0.2344) 77.78 (0.2595) n=18 90.28 (0.2508) 84.72 (0.2243)

AC n=16 7.37 (0.2336) 11.11 (0.2312) n=12 6.25 (0.2165) 8.48 (0.2522)

DA n=16 12.15 (0.2707) 20.45 (0.2697) n=12 12.50 (0.3108) 11.81 (0.2415)

Baseline n=16 97.97 (0.0159) 93.75 (0.1131) n=12 100.00 (0.000) 97.97 (0.0159)

RT (ms)

MP n=24 1324 (324) 1317 (385) n=18 1302 (361) 1346 (356)

MT n=24 1682 (554) 1912 (754) n=18 1605 (627) 1759 (574)

AC n=16 1484 (471) 1703 (641) n=12 1358 (444) 1611 (616)

DA n=16 1506 (306) 1617 (676) n=12 1515 (322) 1497 (390)

Baseline n=16 1564 (649) 1735 (738) n=12 1431 (632) 1696 (683)

1. Main effect of conditional reasoning

2. Main effect of causal conditional reasoning

2. Interaction abstract > causal1. Interaction causal > abstract

3. Simple effect causal 4. Simple effect abstract

2. Interaction social > physical

1. Interaction physical > social

Main effect of conditional reasoning:

Right and left hemispheric activity in fronto-temporo-parietal

Integration of both syntactic language-based activity and visuo-spatial processing

Main effect of causal conditional reasoning:

Left frontoparietal activation left inferior frontal

Syntactic/semantic processing

Causal reasoning:

Left-lateralized activation of lateral frontal structures and structures near the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ).

Linguistic processing and semantic integration.

Abstract reasoning:

Right lateralized activation of occipito-parieto-temporal regions

Spatial manipulation and internal representation of symbols

Social reasoning:

Right lateralized activation of the inferior frontal gyrus and the insula.

Social cognition & empathy

Physical reasoning:

Left fronto-parietal activation

Non-social conditional reasoning structures

Lexico-semantic processing

Behavioral results

Poor accuracy for invalid forms

Confusing instruction

Use of force-choice responses (true or false):If the brake is depressed, then the car will slow down.

The car slows down

∴ The brake is depressed.

Reasoning is a fractionated cognitive system that relies on various neural pathways

Content

Domain

Future studies: Brain lesion studies