Kroger James K, Nystrom Leigh E, Cohen Jonathan D, Johnson-Laird Philip N
Department of Psychology, New Mexico State University, 220 Science Hall, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
Brain Res. 2008 Dec 3;1243:86-103. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.07.128. Epub 2008 Aug 15.
In an effort to clarify how deductive reasoning is accomplished, an fMRI study was performed to observe the neural substrates of logical reasoning and mathematical calculation. Participants viewed a problem statement and three premises, and then either a conclusion or a mathematical formula. They had to indicate whether the conclusion followed from the premises, or to solve the mathematical formula. Language areas of the brain (Broca's and Wernicke's area) responded as the premises and the conclusion were read, but solution of the problems was then carried out by non-language areas. Regions in right prefrontal cortex and inferior parietal lobe were more active for reasoning than for calculation, whereas regions in left prefrontal cortex and superior parietal lobe were more active for calculation than for reasoning. In reasoning, only those problems calling for a search for counterexamples to conclusions recruited right frontal pole. These results have important implications for understanding how higher cognition, including deduction, is implemented in the brain. Different sorts of thinking recruit separate neural substrates, and logical reasoning goes beyond linguistic regions of the brain.
为了阐明演绎推理是如何完成的，进行了一项功能磁共振成像（fMRI）研究，以观察逻辑推理和数学计算的神经基础。参与者会看到一个问题陈述和三个前提，然后要么是一个结论，要么是一个数学公式。他们必须指出结论是否能从前提中得出，或者解出数学公式。当阅读前提和结论时，大脑的语言区域（布洛卡区和韦尼克区）会做出反应，但问题的解决随后由非语言区域执行。右前额叶皮层和顶下叶的区域在推理时比在计算时更活跃，而左前额叶皮层和顶上叶的区域在计算时比在推理时更活跃。在推理过程中，只有那些需要寻找结论反例的问题才会激活右额极。这些结果对于理解包括演绎在内的高级认知在大脑中是如何实现的具有重要意义。不同类型的思维会调用不同的神经基础，并且逻辑推理超出了大脑的语言区域。
