Use of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Explore Metacognitive Ability and Academic Performance

Abstract Previous studies have reported the importance of the precuneus in mediating metacognition and the prefrontal cortex in decision-making tasks. However, the mechanisms underlying metacognition remain to be fully elucidated. Long echo time proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to further explore the neurocognitive correlates of metacognition. Metacognition was based on a self-reported questionnaire of nursing students. MR spectra of the bilateral precuneus and medial prefrontal cortex were recorded. Significant positive correlation was discovered between the total metacognitive score and academic performance (p = 0.007). The precuneus N-acetyl aspartate/creatine + phosphocreatine (NAA/Cr + PCr) ratios corresponded to metacognitive ability. Moreover, the correlation between precuneus NAA/Cr + PCr ratios and metacognitive ability was established for the right and not for the left precuneus. Linear regression suggested that for every increase in the right precuneus NAA/Cr + PCr ratio, there is a predicted decrease in the total metacognitive score (p = 0.020). These findings further indicated that the right precuneal region plays an important role in metacognition and learning.