When planning fails: individual differences and error-related brain activity in problem solving.
The neuronal processes underlying correct and erroneous problem solving were studied in strong and weak problem-solvers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). During planning, the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was activated, and showed a linear relationship with the participants' performance level. A similar pattern emerged in right inferior parietal regions for all trials, and in anterior cingulate cortex for erroneously solved trials only. In the performance phase, when the pre-planned moves had to be executed by means of an fMRI-compatible computer mouse, the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was again activated jointly with right parahippocampal cortex, and displayed a similar positive relationship with the participants' performance level. Incorrectly solved problems elicited stronger bilateral prefrontal and left inferior parietal activations than correctly solved trials. For both individual ability and trial-specific performance, our results thus demonstrate the crucial involvement of right prefrontal cortex in efficient visuospatial planning.
Unterrainer
J M
JM
Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Germany. josef.unterrainer@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de
Rahm
B
B
Kaller
C P
CP
Ruff
C C
CC
Spreer
J
J
Krause
B J
BJ
Schwarzwald
R
R
Hautzel
H
H
Halsband
U
U
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012107:Research Design