scholarly journals Neural representation of abstract task structure during generalization

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avinash Rao Vaidya ◽  
Henry M Jones ◽  
Johanny Castillo ◽  
David Badre
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Flexibility ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Task Structure ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Abstract Representation ◽  
Task Representation ◽  
Inferior Parietal Cortex

Cognitive models in psychology and neuroscience widely assume that the human brain maintains an abstract representation of tasks. This assumption is fundamental to theories explaining how we learn quickly, think creatively, and act flexibly. However, neural evidence for a verifiably generative abstract task representation has been lacking. Here, we report an experimental paradigm that requires forming such a representation to act adaptively in novel conditions without feedback. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we observed that abstract task structure was represented within left mid-lateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral precuneus and inferior parietal cortex. These results provide support for the neural instantiation of the long-supposed abstract task representation in a setting where we can verify its influence. Such a representation can afford massive expansions of behavioral flexibility without additional experience, a vital characteristic of human cognition.

scholarly journals Neural representation of abstract task structure during generalization

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avinash R. Vaidya ◽  
Henry M. Jones ◽  
Johanny Castillo ◽  
David Badre
Keyword(s):  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Functional Mri ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Task Structure ◽  
Task Knowledge ◽  
Additional Training ◽  
Task Representations

AbstractAbstract task representations enable generalization, including inferring new behaviors based on prior knowledge without additional training. However, evidence for a neural representation that meets this benchmark is surprisingly limited. Here, using functional MRI (fMRI), we observed that abstract task structure was represented within frontoparietal networks during generalization. These results reveal the neural systems supporting a vital feature of human cognition: the abstraction of task knowledge to infer novel behaviors.

Methods of Predicting the Brain Activity Based on Noun

2013 ◽  
Vol 347-350 ◽  
pp. 2516-2520
Author(s):  
Jian Hua Jiang ◽  
Xu Yu ◽  
Zhi Xing Huang
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Fmri Data ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
The Past ◽  
Machine Learning Methods ◽  
The Brain

Over the last decade, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become a primary tool to predict the brain activity.During the past research, researchers transfer the focus from the picture to the word.The results of these researches are relatively successful. In this paper, several typical methods which are machine learning methods are introduced. And most of the methods are by using fMRI data associated with words features. The semantic features (properties or factors) support words neural representation, and have a certain commonality in the people.The purpose of the application of these methods is used for prediction or classification.

scholarly journals How the Brain Converts Negative Evaluation into Performance Facilitation

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 602-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Prévost ◽  
Hakwan Lau ◽  
Dean Mobbs
Keyword(s):  
Brain Regions ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Recurrent Theme

Abstract Surpassing negative evaluation is a recurrent theme of success stories. Yet, there is little evidence supporting the counterintuitive idea that negative evaluation might not only motivate people, but also enhance performance. To address this question, we designed a task that required participants to decide whether taking up a risky challenge after receiving positive or negative evaluations from independent judges. Participants believed that these evaluations were based on their prior performance on a related task. Results showed that negative evaluation caused a facilitation in performance. Concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the motivating effect of negative evaluation was represented in the insula and striatum, while the performance boost was associated with functional positive connectivity between the insula and a set of brain regions involved in goal-directed behavior and the orienting of attention. These findings provide new insight into the neural representation of negative evaluation-induced facilitation.

scholarly journals Discriminating neural representations of physical and social pains: how multivariate statistics challenge the “shared representation” theory of pain

2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 2558-2560 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rogachov ◽  
J. C. Cheng ◽  
D. D. DeSouza
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Representation Theory ◽  
Multivariate Statistics ◽  
Social Rejection ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Physical Pain ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Neural Representations

Overlapping functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity elicited by physical pain and social rejection has posited a common neural representation between the two experiences. However, Woo and colleagues ( Nat Commun 5: 5380, 2014) recently used multivariate statistics to challenge the “shared representation” theory of pain. This study has implications in the way results from fMRI studies are interpreted and has the potential of broadening our understanding of different pain states and future development of personalized medicine.

scholarly journals Aberrantly higher functional connectivity in the salience network is associated with transient global amnesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geon Ha Kim ◽  
Bori R. Kim ◽  
Min Young Chun ◽  
Kee Duk Park ◽  
Soo Mee Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Brain Networks ◽  
Transient Global Amnesia ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Salience Network ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Illness Onset ◽  
Global Amnesia

AbstractTriple intrinsic brain networks including the salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), and central executive network (CEN), are known to be important in human cognition. Therefore, investigating those intrinsic brain networks in transient global amnesia (TGA) may offer novel insight useful for the pathophysiology of TGA. Fifty TGA patients underwent the resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) within 24 h, at 72 h, and 3 months after TGA onset. Twenty-five age, gender matched controls also underwent rsfMRI. Within 24 h of TGA onset, TGA patients showed greater functional connectivity in the SN and lower functional connectivity in the DMN, while relatively preserved functional connectivity was observed in the CEN. Interestingly, TGA patients continued to show decreased connectivity in the DMN, while no alterations were shown in the SN 72 h after illness onset. Three months after TGA onset, alterations of functional connectivity in the SN or the DMN were normalized. Our findings suggest that TGA is associated with transient greater functional connectivity in the SN and lower connectivity in the DMN.

scholarly journals Prefrontal Dynamics Associated with Efficient Detours and Shortcuts: A Combined Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetoencenphalography Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1227-1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir-Homayoun Javadi ◽  
Eva Zita Patai ◽  
Eugenia Marin-Garcia ◽  
Aaron Margolis ◽  
Heng-Ru M. Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Evolution ◽  
Behavioral Flexibility ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Flexible Behavior ◽  
Desert Island ◽  
Neural Underpinnings ◽  
Human Participants ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain

Central to the concept of the “cognitive map” is that it confers behavioral flexibility, allowing animals to take efficient detours, exploit shortcuts, and avoid alluring, but unhelpful, paths. The neural underpinnings of such naturalistic and flexible behavior remain unclear. In two neuroimaging experiments, we tested human participants on their ability to navigate to a set of goal locations in a virtual desert island riven by lava, which occasionally spread to block selected paths (necessitating detours) or receded to open new paths (affording real shortcuts or false shortcuts to be avoided). Detours activated a network of frontal regions compared with shortcuts. Activity in the right dorsolateral PFC specifically increased when participants encountered tempting false shortcuts that led along suboptimal paths that needed to be differentiated from real shortcuts. We also report modulation in event-related fields and theta power in these situations, providing insight to the temporal evolution of response to encountering detours and shortcuts. These results help inform current models as to how the brain supports navigation and planning in dynamic environments.

scholarly journals Brain correlates of impaired goal management in bipolar mania

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Mercé Madre ◽  
Paola Fuentes-Claramonte ◽  
Pol Palau ◽  
Naia Sáez ◽  
Noemí Moro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Goal Management ◽  
Inferior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Brain Correlates ◽  
Executive Impairment ◽  
Manic Patients ◽  
Illness Phase

Abstract Background Although executive impairment has been reported in mania, its brain functional correlates have been relatively little studied. This study examined goal management, believed to be more closely related to executive impairment in daily life than other executive tasks, using a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm in patients in this illness phase. Methods Twenty-one currently manic patients with bipolar disorder and 30 matched healthy controls were scanned while performing the Computerized Multiple Elements Test (CMET). This requires participants to sequentially play four simple games, with transition between games being made either voluntarily (executive condition) or automatically (control condition). Results CMET performance was impaired in the manic patients compared to the healthy controls. Manic patients failed to increase activation in the lateral frontal, cingulate and inferior parietal cortex when the executive demands of the task increased, while this increase was observed in the healthy controls. Activity in these regions was associated with task performance. Conclusions Manic patients show evidence of impaired goal management, which is associated with a pattern of reduced medial and lateral frontal and parietal activity.

scholarly journals The Attentional Blink Modulates Activity in the Early Visual Cortex

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grit Hein ◽  
Arjen Alink ◽  
Andreas Kleinschmidt ◽  
Notger G. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Attentional Blink ◽  
Neural Response ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Visual Activity ◽  
Inferior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Early Visual Cortex ◽  
The Impact

The attentional blink (AB) documents a particularly strong case of visual attentional competition, in which subjects' ability to identify a second target (T2) is significantly impaired when it is presented with a short SOA after a first target (T1). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the impact of the AB on visual activity in individually defined retinotopic representations of the target stimuli. Our results show reduction of neural response in V3 and marginally in V2 and V1, paralleling the behavioral AB effect. Reduction of visual activity was accompanied by reduced neural response in the inferior parietal cortex. This indicates that attentional competition modulates activity in higher-order parietal regions and the early visual cortex, providing a plausible neural basis of the behavioral AB effect.

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