Domain-specificity and generality in the brain(Forum: Domain-specificity versus domain-generality in everyday cognition)

Abstract

Domain-specificity and generality of cognition are exciting subjects relating that can shed light on the processes of human cognitive evolution. Their theorization, however, is very complicated, and the relationships between domain specificity and basic architecture of the brain have not yet been fully clarified. This paper reviews recent studies on the relationship between domain-specificity/generality and brain functions. Among visual cognition, in which the author is specialized, facial cognition needs special attention as it is connected to the basic social cognition and should have had an important adaptive value. The studies with neuroimaging show that face perception, cognition of facial expression, and that of facial attractiveness are processed in several particular brain areas including fusiform face area, amygdala and some else. Moreover, recent studies of neuroimaging suggest that there is a neural basis for not only domain specificity but also for the general intelligence as domain-generality of cognition.