| Abstract: | 此三年的研究計劃中，欲探討軀體標記假說(Somatic Marker Hypothesis；SMH)尚未解決的問題，包括（1）在愛荷華賭局作業(Iowa gambling task；IGT)中包含了混淆變項；（2）Damasio 用來測量軀體標記的方法（即：膚電反應）不夠敏感；（3）由腦傷患者或生理測量所獲得的實驗結果，無法有效釐清現象間的因果關係。因此，這項計畫中設計了人類與動物行為實驗，並使用認知模型方法(cognitive modeling method)來檢驗IGT 的建構，探討與決策行為相關的生理現象，以及與IGT 作業中各成份產生交互作用的大腦機制。在人類行為實驗中，將綜合多項生理指標（如：膚電反應、心跳頻率測量、臉部肌電反應、腦電位反應以及事件關連電位等）來測量生理反應與IGT 成分的共變。在動物行為實驗中，將使用腦區破壞與藥物注射等神經藥理學的技術來探索軀體標記假說的神經基礎。此外，認知模型被用來估計決策歷程中的各個成分。預計三年研究期內將進行六項研究。第一年的研究將著重於探討生理測量方法的相關議題，以及處理軀體標記訊號的機制腦側化的問題；第二年的研究將著重於釐清IGT 作業中各成份造成的混淆；第三年的研究則主要在檢驗與軀體標記假說相關的中樞神經系統，包含ERP 成分與大腦相關區域。
A three year integrative project is proposed to investigate some unsolved issues in Somatic Marker Hypothesis (SMH): 1) the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) consists various components which may complicate the interpretations driven from it, 2) the measurement that Damasio used to index somatic marker (i.e. SCR) is not sensitive to capture the processes of decision making, and 3) studies with patients or physiological measurement are limited in extracting causal relationship. In this project, both human and animal studies, as well as cognitive modeling method, will be processed to examine the construct of IGT, to explore the physiological correlates of decision making, and to investigate the brain substrates which interact with different components of the IGT. In human studies, a variety of physiological measurements (e.g. SCR, heart rate, facial EMG, EEG, ERP) will be incorporated to probe the covariance of the physiological responses and IGT components. In animal study, neuropharmacological techniques including the lesion and drug treatment will be conducted to reveal the neural mechanisms underlying the somatic marker hypothesis. Furthermore, cognitive modeling will be applied to estimate components of decision processes. Six studies are proposed within three years. In the first year, issues related to physiological measurement, and lateralization of somatic marker operation will be explored. In the second year, possible confoundings in the IGT will be examined. In the third year, the central neural system related to SMH, including ERP components and brain substrates, will be investigated. |
