Job Satisfaction, Self-Rated Work Performance, and Precuneus Gray Matter Volume: An Exploratory Neuroimaging Study.

INTRODUCTION

In today's world of intensifying global competition, it is becoming increasingly important to enhance employees' job performance. However, the relationship between brain structure and job performance is unclear.

METHODS

Therefore, we hypothesized and tested whether the gray matter volume in the precuneus, which is involved in metacognition and the default mode network, statistically accounts for part of the association between job satisfaction and job performance through the mediation analysis.

RESULTS

This study showed that the gray matter volume of the precuneus statistically accounts for part of the association between job satisfaction and work performance. Furthermore, exploratory analysis showed that the superior parietal lobule and midcingulate cortex may be related to work performance, and the superior temporal sulcus, rectus, medial orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and pallidum may be related to job satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

These results are the first to show that the gray matter volume of brain regions, including the precuneus, which is responsible for functions such as metacognition, reflection, creativity, and self-efficacy, is related to job satisfaction and work performance, consistent with the self-regulated learning strategy theory.