title: Inter-individual variability in metacognitive ability for visuomotor performance and underlying brain structures.
abstract: Metacognition refers to the ability to discriminate between one's own correct and incorrect decisions. The neurobiological underpinnings of metacognition have mainly been studied in perceptual decision-making. Here we investigated whether differences in brain structure predict individual variability in metacognitive sensitivity for visuomotor performance. Participants had to draw straight trajectories toward visual targets, which could unpredictably deviate around detection threshold, report such deviations when detected, and rate their confidence level for such reports. Structural brain MRI analyses revealed that larger gray-matter volume (GMV) in the left middle occipital gyrus, left medial parietal cortex, and right postcentral gyrus predicted higher deviation detection sensitivity. By contrast, larger GMV in the right prefrontal cortex but also right anterior insula and right fusiform gyrus predicted higher metacognitive sensitivity. These results extend past research by linking metacognitive sensitivity for visuomotor behavior to brain areas involved in action agency (insula), executive control (prefrontal cortex) and vision (fusiform).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Studies, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: indrit.sinanaj@unige.ch.
authors.forename: Indrit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sinanaj
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cojan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Studies, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vuilleumier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D056228:Feedback, Sensory / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D000067489:Metacognition / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Metacognitive sensitivity; Right anterior insula; Visuomotor performance