Temporal chunking as a mechanism for unsupervised learning of task-sets.

ELife
Flora BouchacourtSrdjan Ostojic

Abstract

Depending on environmental demands, humans can learn and exploit multiple concurrent sets of stimulus-response associations. Mechanisms underlying the learning of such task-sets remain unknown. Here we investigate the hypothesis that task-set learning relies on unsupervised chunking of stimulus-response associations that occur in temporal proximity. We examine behavioral and neural data from a task-set learning experiment using a network model. We first show that task-set learning can be achieved provided the timescale of chunking is slower than the timescale of stimulus-response learning. Fitting the model to behavioral data on a subject-by-subject basis confirmed this expectation and led to specific predictions linking chunking and task-set retrieval that were borne out by behavioral performance and reaction times. Comparing the model activity with BOLD signal allowed us to identify neural correlates of task-set retrieval in a functional network involving ventral and dorsal prefrontal cortex, with the dorsal system preferentially engaged when retrievals are used to improve performance.

References

Mar 1, 1991·Psychological Bulletin·C M MacLeod
Jan 1, 1988·Annual Review of Neuroscience·R A Rescorla
Jan 1, 1996·Memory & Cognition·M J Kahana
Mar 11, 2000·Journal of Neurophysiology·D DurstewitzT J Sejnowski
Jul 27, 2000·Human Brain Mapping·J L LancasterP T Fox
Mar 17, 2001·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·E K Miller
Apr 3, 2001·Annual Review of Neuroscience·E K Miller, J D Cohen
Jun 22, 2001·Nature·J D WallisE K Miller
Nov 21, 2001·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·J Duncan
Apr 17, 2004·Science·John O'DohertyRaymond J Dolan
Jul 6, 2004·Nature Neuroscience·Saori C TanakaShigeto Yamawaki
May 11, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Nicolas P RougierRandall C O'Reilly
Jun 10, 2005·Neuron·Angela J Yu, Peter Dayan
Jul 26, 2005·Neuron·Aldo GenovesioSteven P Wise
Jan 27, 2006·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Kong-Fatt Wong, Xiao-Jing Wang
Apr 7, 2006·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Alireza Soltani, Xiao-Jing Wang
May 30, 2006·Neuron·Nico U F DosenbachSteven E Petersen
May 30, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Patrick J Drew, L F Abbott
Jun 17, 2006·Nature·Nathaniel D DawRaymond J Dolan
Jun 24, 2006·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Aaron C CourvilleDavid S Touretzky
Mar 14, 2007·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·Matthew F S RushworthDavid M Bannerman
Aug 7, 2007·Nature Neuroscience·Timothy E J BehrensMatthew F S Rushworth
Oct 27, 2007·Science·Etienne Koechlin, Alexandre Hyafil
Mar 28, 2008·Nature Neuroscience·Matthew F S Rushworth, Timothy E J Behrens
Jun 19, 2008·Annual Review of Neuroscience·Katsuyuki Sakai
Nov 6, 2008·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Russell A Poldrack
Nov 27, 2008·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Peter Dayan, Nathaniel D Daw
Mar 3, 2009·Nature Neuroscience·David BadreMark D'Esposito
Mar 14, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Son PremingerMisha Tsodyks
Oct 2, 2009·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Vikram S ChibJohn P O'Doherty
Dec 17, 2009·Nature Neuroscience·Alireza Soltani, Xiao-Jing Wang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 18, 2020·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Andrew SaxeChristopher Summerfield

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Neurosynth
Matlab
learn
WFU PickAtlas
scikit
Python
scipy
numpy
Glasser
SPM12

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.