Abstract: Objective  To provide a basis for enriching the theory of the Five Elements and the psychological connotation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by means of investigating the differences in the cognitive functions and processing processes between individuals dominated by the Wood Element and those dominated by the Metal Element according to the Five Elements theory in the TCM.Methods  According to the previous devised Quantitative Standard for Facial Phenotype Classification of TCM Five Elements People, typical individuals with a dominant Wood or Metal Element were recruited. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) cognitive function assessment tool, as well as the Top-down and Bottom-up cue target task paradigm were employed to evaluate their cognitive functions and attentional processing differences. Independent sample t-tests and rank sum tests were applied to analyze the differences in cognitive functions between the two groups of participants. Results  This research included 32 participants with a dominant Wood Element and 40 participants with a dominant Metal Element. In RBANS cognitive function assessment tool, compared to the Wood Element group, the Metal Element group exhibited significantly higher scores in the visuospatial dimension and its subtask line orientation (P＜0.05). In the bottom-up cue target task paradigm, the Wood Element group displayed a statistically higher short reaction time difference. In contrast, the Metal Element group demonstrated a significant higher long reaction time difference (P<0.05). Conclusion  In the theory of TCM Five Elements, the Wood Element group relied more on bottom-up cognitive processing, while the Metal Element group performed better in processing visuo-spatial information and conserving cognitive processing resources.

Key words: traditional Chinese medicine Five Element people, cognitive function, Top-down, Bottom-up