A new study may help scientists understand how certain brain injuries affect an individual's ability to reflect upon their own thoughts and actions.

It may eventually be possible to tailor appropriate treatments to patients, such as stroke victims or those with serious brain trauma, who may not even understand their own conditions.

"Take the example of two patients with mental illness -- one who is aware of their illness and one who is not," said study co-author Stephen Fleming of University College London.

"The first person is likely to take their medication, but the second is less likely."

"If we understand self-awareness at the neurological level, then perhaps we can also adapt treatments and develop training strategies for these patients."

By comparing the MRI scans of each participant's brain, researchers identified a correlation between introspective ability and the structure of a small area of the prefrontal cortex.

An individual's meta-cognitive, or 'hgher-thinking' abilities were significantly correlated with the amount of grey matter in the right anterior prefrontal cortex and the structure of neighbouring white matter.

More research is needed to explore the mental computations behind introspection and then to link these computations to actual biological processes.

"We want to know why we are aware of some mental processes while others proceed in the absence of consciousness," said Fleming.

"There may be different levels of consciousness, ranging from simply having an experience, to reflecting upon that experience."

"Introspection is on the higher end of this spectrum."

"By measuring this process and relating it to the brain we hope to gain insight into the biology of conscious thought."