Study on Introspection is Something to Think About

by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

There is a new study about introspection. Introspection is basically thinking about your thinking. A way to judge your own thoughts and actions. In other words, it is the way we decide we are confident about some action we took.

New research has uncovered a part of the brain that's larger in people who seem particularly introspective. Some people know their minds better than others.

Using brain scans, the researchers found that people's introspective ability was strongly linked to the amount of gray matter in a spot of the prefrontal cortex, right behind the eyes.

And, it did not stop there.

The study found people who were more introspective also had stronger functioning white matter in that part of the brain - the nerve fibers that act as a telephone system to allow cells to communicate with one another.

Another study looking at just how complex our brain happens to be.