公募班第一期研究代表者の中井智也さんの論文がCommunications Biologyで発表されました。従来、脳活動は感覚運動野の方が被験者間で類似しているとされていましたが、さまざまな認知課題の間の構造を利用して類似性を調べたところ、高次連合野において被験者間に共通する構造があることがわかりました。

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Paper Information

Authors： Tomoya Nakai, Rieko Kubo & Shinji Nishimoto 

Title： Cortical representational geometry of diverse tasks reveals subject-specific and subject-invariant cognitive structures

Journal： Communications Biology volume 8, Article number: 713 (2025)

DOI：https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08134-4

Abstract: 

 The variability in brain function forms the basis for our uniqueness. Prior studies indicate smaller individual differences and larger inter-subject correlation (ISC) in sensorimotor areas than in the association cortex. These studies, deriving information from brain activity, leave individual differences in cognitive structures based on task similarity relations unexplored. This study quantitatively evaluates these differences by integrating ISC, representational similarity analysis, and vertex-wise encoding models using functional magnetic resonance imaging across 25 cognitive tasks. ISC based on cognitive structures enables subject identification with 100% accuracy using at least 14 tasks. ISC is larger in the fronto-parietal association and higher-order visual cortices, suggesting subject-invariant cognitive structures in these regions. Principal component analysis reveals different cognitive structure configurations within these regions. This study provides evidence of individual variability and similarity in abstract cognitive structures.