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Relational complexity, the central executive, and prefrontal cortex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 1998

James A. Waltz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563 waltz@psych.ucla.eduknowlton@lifesci.ucla.eduholyoak@lifesci.ucla.edu
Barbara J. Knowlton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563 waltz@psych.ucla.eduknowlton@lifesci.ucla.eduholyoak@lifesci.ucla.edu
Keith J. Holyoak
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563 waltz@psych.ucla.eduknowlton@lifesci.ucla.eduholyoak@lifesci.ucla.edu

Abstract

Halford et al.'s analysis of relational complexity provides a possible framework for characterizing the symbolic functions of the prefrontal cortex. Studies of prefrontal patients have revealed that their performance is selectively impaired on tasks that require integration of two binary relations (i.e., tasks that Halford et al.'s analysis would identify as three-dimensional). Analyses of relational complexity show promise of helping to understand the neural substrate of thinking.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

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