Neural Correlates of Identity Judgments in the Prefrontal Cortex: An Optical Brain Imaging (fNIRS) Study

Abstract

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a crucial role in human reasoning and decision-making. Studies using neuroimaging techniques have shown that situations involving conflicts lead to increased activity in both the prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). This research specifically investigates the activity in the prefrontal cortex when individuals assess statements related to identity. The results obtained through optical brain imaging (fNIRS) indicate that participants experience greater conflict when evaluating propositions they strongly disagree with, compared to propositions they strongly agree with. Furthermore, responses that are indeterminate lead to higher activation levels in prefrontal regions. Additionally, the analysis of the participants' reaction times reveals significant differences associated with the content of their responses.