title: Contradictory reasoning network: an EEG and FMRI study.
abstract: Contradiction is a cornerstone of human rationality, essential for everyday life and communication. We investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in separate recording sessions during contradictory judgments, using a logical structure based on categorical propositions of the Aristotelian Square of Opposition (ASoO). The use of ASoO propositions, while controlling for potential linguistic or semantic confounds, enabled us to observe the spatial temporal unfolding of this contradictory reasoning. The processing started with the inversion of the logical operators corresponding to right middle frontal gyrus (rMFG-BA11) activation, followed by identification of contradictory statement associated with in the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG-BA47) activation. Right medial frontal gyrus (rMeFG, BA10) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC, BA32) contributed to the later stages of process. We observed a correlation between the delayed latency of rBA11 response and the reaction time delay during inductive vs. deductive reasoning. This supports the notion that rBA11 is crucial for manipulating the logical operators. Slower processing time and stronger brain responses for inductive logic suggested that examples are easier to process than general principles and are more likely to simplify communication.
authors.affiliation: LET'S-ISTC-CNR, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porcaro
authors.affiliation: LET'S-ISTC-CNR, Rome, Italy; Phylosophy Department, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Medaglia
authors.affiliation: Aston Brain Centre, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ngoc Jade
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Thai
authors.affiliation: Aston Brain Centre, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seri
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rotshtein
authors.affiliation: LET'S-ISTC-CNR, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroimaging, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tecchio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D011859:Radiography; D011908:Rationalization