Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.
Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Brain Behav. 2023 Sep;13(9):e3138. doi: 10.1002/brb3.3138. Epub 2023 Jul 25.
Need for cognition (NFC) represents interindividual differences in tendencies to engage and enjoy cognitive endeavors. Exploratory information seeking (EIS) refers to individual tendencies to attain cognitive stimulation through acquiring information related to consumer products or services out of curiosity.
The current study aims to provide an in-depth investigation of the relationship between NFC and EIS and extend this relation to determine neuroanatomical correlates of NFC and EIS. This study proposed two central hypotheses: (1) NFC and EIS scores are positively correlated and (2) the gray matter volume (GMV) of brain regions implicated in motivation, valuation, and reward systems are positively associated with both NFC and EIS. Self-report and structural MRI data of 91 Singaporean Chinese participants were utilized for the study.
No statistically significant correlation was revealed between NFC and EIS scores. Neuroanatomical associations of the GMV of brain regions implicated in visuospatial, attentional, and reward processing with individual constructs of interest were explored. When examining NFC and EIS scores, larger GMV in the right pallidum and left fusiform gyrus was found in participants that reported higher levels of NFC (vs. lower NFC levels), larger GMV in the left precuneus in those with greater tendencies to engage in EIS (vs. lower EIS levels), and larger GMV of the left fusiform gyrus associated with greater endorsement of both NFC and EIS. When investigating the exploratory factor analysis-generated factors of NFC and EIS, similar patterns of associations were found between self-reported levels of agreement against factors and GMV of brain regions implicated.
Correlational analysis and exploratory factor analysis indicated the absence of a relationship between NFC and EIS. Additionally, voxel-based morphometry whole-brain analysis revealed neuroanatomical correlates of the GMV of brain regions implicated in visuospatial, attentional, and reward processing with NFC and EIS.
认知需求(NFC)代表了个体在参与和享受认知活动方面的倾向差异。探索性信息寻求(EIS)是指个体出于好奇通过获取与消费品或服务相关的信息来寻求认知刺激的倾向。
本研究旨在深入探讨 NFC 和 EIS 之间的关系,并扩展这一关系以确定 NFC 和 EIS 的神经解剖学相关性。本研究提出了两个中心假设:(1)NFC 和 EIS 得分呈正相关;(2)与动机、评估和奖励系统相关的脑区的灰质体积(GMV)与 NFC 和 EIS 均呈正相关。本研究使用了 91 名新加坡华人参与者的自我报告和结构磁共振成像数据。
NFC 和 EIS 得分之间没有显示出统计学上的显著相关性。探索了与个体感兴趣的结构相关的脑区 GMV 的神经解剖关联。当检查 NFC 和 EIS 得分时,发现右苍白球和左梭状回 GMV 较大的参与者报告的 NFC 水平较高(与 NFC 水平较低的参与者相比),左楔前叶 GMV 较大的参与者 EIS 参与度较高(与 EIS 水平较低的参与者相比),左梭状回 GMV 较大的参与者同时报告了较高的 NFC 和 EIS 水平。当对 NFC 和 EIS 的探索性因子分析生成的因素进行调查时,发现自我报告的对因素的一致性水平与脑区 GMV 之间存在相似的关联模式。
相关分析和探索性因子分析表明,NFC 和 EIS 之间没有关系。此外,基于体素的形态测量全脑分析显示,与视空间、注意力和奖励处理相关的脑区 GMV 的神经解剖学与 NFC 和 EIS 相关。