Neural Oscillation Correlates Chemistry Decision-Making

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (03) ◽  
pp. 1750031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Yu Huang ◽  
Hsiao-Ching She ◽  
Tzyy-Ping Jung

This study explored the electroencephalography (EEG) dynamics during a chemistry-related decision-making task and further examined whether the correctness of the decision-making performance could be reflected by EEG activity. A total of 66 undergraduate students’ EEG were collected while they participated in a chemistry-related decision-making task in which they had to retrieve the relevant chemistry concepts in order to make correct decisions for each task item. The results showed that it was only in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) cluster that distinct patterns in EEG dynamics were displayed for the correct and incorrect responses. The logistic regression results indicated that ACC theta power from 300[Formula: see text]ms to 250[Formula: see text]ms before stimulus onset was the most informative factor for estimating the likelihood of making correct decisions in the chemistry-related decision-making task, while it was the ACC low beta power from 150[Formula: see text]ms to 250[Formula: see text]ms after stimulus onset. The results suggested that the ACC theta augmentation before the stimulus onset serves to actively maintain the relevant information for retrieval from long-term memory, while the ACC low beta augmentation after the stimulus onset may serve the function of mapping the encoded stimulus onto the relevant criteria that the given participant has held within his or her mind to guide the decision-making responses.

Author(s):  
Thomas Jacobsen ◽  
Erich Schröger

Abstract. Working memory uses central sound representations as an informational basis. The central sound representation is the temporally and feature-integrated mental representation that corresponds to phenomenal perception. It is used in (higher-order) mental operations and stored in long-term memory. In the bottom-up processing path, the central sound representation can be probed at the level of auditory sensory memory with the mismatch negativity (MMN) of the event-related potential. The present paper reviews a newly developed MMN paradigm to tap into the processing of speech sound representations. Preattentive vowel categorization based on F1-F2 formant information occurs in speech sounds and complex tones even under conditions of high variability of the auditory input. However, an additional experiment demonstrated the limits of the preattentive categorization of language-relevant information. It tested whether the system categorizes complex tones containing the F1 and F2 formant components of the vowel /a/ differently than six sounds with nonlanguage-like F1-F2 combinations. From the absence of an MMN in this experiment, it is concluded that no adequate vowel representation was constructed. This shows limitations of the capability of preattentive vowel categorization.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (22) ◽  
pp. E5233-E5242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda R. Arulpragasam ◽  
Jessica A. Cooper ◽  
Makiah R. Nuutinen ◽  
Michael T. Treadway

We are presented with choices each day about how to invest our effort to achieve our goals. Critically, these decisions must frequently be made under conditions of incomplete information, where either the effort required or possible reward to be gained is uncertain. Such choices therefore require the development of potential value estimates to guide effortful goal-directed behavior. To date, however, the neural mechanisms for this expectation process are unknown. Here, we used computational fMRI during an effort-based decision-making task where trial-wise information about effort costs and reward magnitudes was presented separately over time, thereby allowing us to model distinct effort/reward computations as choice-relevant information unfolded. We found that ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) encoded expected subjective value. Further, activity in dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) and anterior insula (aI) reflected both effort discounting as well as a subjective value prediction error signal derived from trial history. While prior studies have identified these regions as being involved in effort-based decision making, these data demonstrate their specific role in the formation and maintenance of subjective value estimates as relevant information becomes available.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishnu P. Murty ◽  
Sarah DuBrow ◽  
Lila Davachi

AbstractThe ability for individuals to actively make decisions engages regions within the mesolimbic system and enhances memory for chosen items. In other behavioral contexts, mesolimbic engagement has been shown to enhance episodic memory by supporting consolidation. However, research has yet to investigate how consolidation may support interactions between decision-making and episodic memory. Across two studies, participants encoded items that were occluded by cover screens and could either actively decide which of two items to uncover or were pre-selected by the experimenter. In Study 1, we show that active decision-making reduces forgetting rates across an immediate and 24-hour memory test, a behavioral marker of consolidation. In Study 2, we use functional neuroimaging to characterize putative neural markers of memory consolidation by measuring post-encoding interactions between the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex (PRC). We show that choice-related striatal engagement is associated with increased post-encoding hippocampal-PRC interactions. Finally, we show that a previous reported relationship between choice-related striatal engagement and long-term memory is accounted for by post-encoding hippocampal-PRC interactions. Together these findings support a model by which actively deciding to encode information enhances subsequent consolidation mechanisms to preserve episodic memory for outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Hsuan Tseng ◽  
Kaori Tamura ◽  
Tsuyoshi Okamoto

Abstract Understanding and improving memory is vital to enhance human life. Theta rhythm is associated with memory consolidation and coding, but the trainability and effects on long-term memory of theta rhythm are unknown. This study investigates the ability to improve long-term memory using a neurofeedback (NFB) technique reflecting the theta/low-beta power ratio on an electroencephalogram (EEG). Our study consisted of three stages: First, the long-term memory of participants was measured. In the second stage, the participants in the NFB group received three days of theta/low-beta NFB training. In the third stage, the long-term memory was measured again. The NFB group had better long-term memory than the control group and significant differences in brain activity between episodic and semantic memory during the recall tests were revealed. These findings suggest that it is possible to improve the long-term memory abilities through theta/low-beta NFB training, which also improves episodic and semantic memory.


2013 ◽  
pp. 124-137
Author(s):  
A. Aganbegyan

Using the case of preparing solutions of different socio-economic problems the author on the basis of system analysis assesses their complexity, validity and target orientation. It is shown that many decisions do not take into account long-term effects and factors that are not directly related to the sphere of the given decision. The author pays special attention to the problem of training the personnel involved in the process of decision-making and its implementation. In conclusion the author tries to rank by their importance socio-economic decisions that are on the agenda.


1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-105
Author(s):  
K Sakai ◽  
Y Naya ◽  
Y Miyashita

We examine the hypothesis that the form representation in the anterior inferotemporal (AIT) cortex is acquired through learning. According to this hypothesis, perceptual aspects of the temporal association area are closely related to its visual representation, in that the response selectivity of AIT neurons can be influenced by visual experience. On the basis of the neurophysiological evidence, we summarize two neuronal mechanisms that subserve the acquisition of form selectivity in AIT neurons. The first mechanism is neuronal tuning to particular stimuli that were learned in a cognitive task. The second mechanism is association, with which relevant information can be retrieved from other stored memories. On the grounds that long-term memory of objects is acquired and organized by at least these two neuronal mechanisms in the temporal association area, we further present a model of the cognitive memory system that unifies perception and imagery.


2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 760-769
Author(s):  
Daniel S. Ruchkin ◽  
Jordan Grafman ◽  
Katherine Cameron ◽  
Rita S. Berndt

The goal of our target article is to establish that electrophysiological data constrain models of short-term memory retention operations to schemes in which activated long-term memory is its representational basis. The temporary stores correspond to neural circuits involved in the perception and subsequent processing of the relevant information, and do not involve specialized neural circuits dedicated to the temporary holding of information outside of those embedded in long-term memory. The commentaries ranged from general agreement with the view that short-term memory stores correspond to activated long-term memory (e.g., Abry, Sato, Schwartz, Loevenbruck & Cathiard [Abry etal.], Cowan, Fuster, Grote, Hickok & Buchsbaum, Keenan, Hyönä & Kaakinen [Keenan et al.], Martin, Morra), to taking a definite exception to this view (e.g., Baddeley, Düzel, Logie & Della Sala, Kroger, Majerus, Van der Linden, Colette & Salmon [Majerus et al.], Vallar).


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 3540-3554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick H. Khader ◽  
Thorsten Pachur ◽  
Stefanie Meier ◽  
Siegfried Bien ◽  
Kerstin Jost ◽  
...  

Many of our daily decisions are memory based, that is, the attribute information about the decision alternatives has to be recalled. Behavioral studies suggest that for such decisions we often use simple strategies (heuristics) that rely on controlled and limited information search. It is assumed that these heuristics simplify decision-making by activating long-term memory representations of only those attributes that are necessary for the decision. However, from behavioral studies alone, it is unclear whether using heuristics is indeed associated with limited memory search. The present study tested this assumption by monitoring the activation of specific long-term-memory representations with fMRI while participants made memory-based decisions using the “take-the-best” heuristic. For different decision trials, different numbers and types of information had to be retrieved and processed. The attributes consisted of visual information known to be represented in different parts of the posterior cortex. We found that the amount of information required for a decision was mirrored by a parametric activation of the dorsolateral PFC. Such a parametric pattern was also observed in all posterior areas, suggesting that activation was not limited to those attributes required for a decision. However, the posterior increases were systematically modulated by the relative importance of the information for making a decision. These findings suggest that memory-based decision-making is mediated by the dorsolateral PFC, which selectively controls posterior storage areas. In addition, the systematic modulations of the posterior activations indicate a selective boosting of activation of decision-relevant attributes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minoo Sisakhti ◽  
Perminder S. Sachdev ◽  
Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli

One of the less well-understood aspects of memory function is the mechanism by which the brain responds to an increasing load of memory, either during encoding or retrieval. Identifying the brain structures which manage this increasing cognitive demand would enhance our knowledge of human memory. Despite numerous studies about the effect of cognitive loads on working memory processes, whether these can be applied to long-term memory processes is unclear. We asked 32 healthy young volunteers to memorize all possible details of 24 images over a 12-day period ending 2 days before the fMRI scan. The images were of 12 categories relevant to daily events, with each category including a high and a low load image. Behavioral assessments on a separate group of participants (#22) provided the average loads of the images. The participants had to retrieve these previously memorized images during the fMRI scan in 15 s, with their eyes closed. We observed seven brain structures showing the highest activation with increasing load of the retrieved images, viz. parahippocampus, cerebellum, superior lateral occipital, fusiform and lingual gyri, precuneus, and posterior cingulate gyrus. Some structures showed reduced activation when retrieving higher load images, such as the anterior cingulate, insula, and supramarginal and postcentral gyri. The findings of this study revealed that the mechanism by which a difficult-to-retrieve memory is handled is mainly by elevating the activation of the responsible brain areas and not by getting other brain regions involved, which is a help to better understand the LTM retrieval process in the human brain.


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