Metacognition

The existence of a corollary discharge at the interface of motor and sensory systems is a well-documented phenomenon. However, neurophysiologists have only recently begun to inquire about the existence of a corollary discharge-type signal in the cognitive system. When an abstract decision is made, the neural activity encoding that decision is used to shape downstream neural activity responsible for evoking the proper behavior (i.e. deciding to select the leftward target, then reaching out to physically touch the chosen target). However, just as the corollary discharge signal of a movement travels upstream to influence future sensory processing, a “cognitive corollary discharge” signal of the decision may travel to other brain regions to influence future behavior. This cognitive corollary discharge (CCD) signal could be the foundation for complex cognitive abilities and behaviors such as metacognition, continuity-of-thought, and self-awareness.