Representation of Abstract Quantitative Rules Applied to Spatial and Numerical Magnitudes in Primate Prefrontal Cortex

Eiselt, Anne-Kathrin; Nieder, Andreas

doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5827-12.2013

Cited by 64 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(5 reference statements)

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“…This claim is consistent with the general theory of magnitude (ATOM) positing that there is a common cortical metric underlying several quantity-related attributes, such as space, time, and number (e.g., Bonato, Zorzi, & Umiltà, 2012;Cohen Kadosh, Lammertyn, & Izard, 2008;Eiselt & Nieder, 2013;Henik, Leibovich, Naparstek, Diesendruck, & Rubinsten, 2012;Leon & Shadlen, 2003;Schwarz & Eiselt, 2009;Walsh, 2003;Winter, Marghetis, & Matlock, 2015). For example, in their coalescence diffusion model Schwarz and Ischebeck (2003) proposed that information from taskirrelevant attributes (e.g., numerical magnitude, and physical font size S vs. L) often cannot be completely ignored.…”

Section: >5) and Physical Size (S Vs L)supporting

confidence: 73%

Exploring the origin of the number-size congruency effect: Sensitivity or response bias?

Reike

Schwarz

2017

Atten Percept Psychophys

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Physical size modulates the efficiency of digit comparison, depending on whether the relation of numerical magnitude and physical size is congruent or incongruent (Besner & Coltheart, Neuropsychologia, 17, 467-472, 1979), the number-size congruency effect (NSCE). In addition, Henik and Tzelgov (Memory & Cognition, 10, 389-395, 1982) first reported an NSCE for the reverse task of comparing the physical size of digits such that the numerical magnitude of digits modulated the time required to compare their physical sizes. Does the NSCE in physical comparisons simply reflect a number-mediated bias mechanism related to making decisions and selecting responses about the digit's sizes? Alternatively, or in addition, the NSCE might indicate a true increase in the ability to discriminate small and large font sizes when these sizes are congruent with the digit's symbolic numerical meaning, over and above response bias effects. We present a new research design that permits us to apply signal detection theory to a task that required observers to judge the physical size of digits. Our results clearly demonstrate that the NSCE cannot be reduced to mere response bias effects, and that genuine sensitivity gains for congruent number-size pairings contribute to the NSCE. Numbers and numerical information play a central role in how humans represent, communicate, and respond to quantity-related aspects of their environments. Correspondingly, a considerable amount of research has addressed many cognitive, neuronal, developmental, and clinical aspects of how we process quantitative information (for general review, see Dehaene, 2011;Nieder, 2005).According to one influential model of number comparison (Moyer & Landauer, 1967; for recent formulations and review, see Ditz & Nieder, 2016;Ganor-Stern & Goldman, 2015;Gilmore, Attridge, & Inglis, 2011;Inglis & Gilmore, 2014; Maloney, Risko, Presto, Ansari, & Fugelsang, 2010;Nuerk, Moeller, Klein, Willmes, & Fischer, 2011;Reike & Schwarz, 2016;Sigman & Dehaene, 2005), digits are automatically converted into percept-like analog representations that are then in turn compared with each other, much like sensory representations of physical attributes such as brightness or orientation. One line of evidence consistent with this model derives from conflict paradigms in which the to-becompared digits are presented with varying physical (i.e., font) sizes. According to the analog representation model, the digit's (task-irrelevant) physical size should modulate the efficiency of the comparison process, depending on whether the relation of numerical magnitude and physical size is congruent (as in 8 -2) or incongruent (e.g., 8 -2). This number-size congruency effect (NSCE) has indeed first been reported by Besner and Coltheart (1979), and has since then often been confirmed and extended (e.g., Algom,

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Section: >5) and Physical Size (S Vs L)supporting

confidence: 73%

Exploring the origin of the number-size congruency effect: Sensitivity or response bias?

Reike

Schwarz

2017

Atten Percept Psychophys

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“…Inhibitory conductances can adaptively rescale the input of a neuron to match its dynamic range (Mitchell and Silver, 2003) and therefore maximize information transmission (Brenner et al, 2000;Fairhall et al, 2001). Our data indicate that DA afferents to the PFC might constitute an important pathway to fine-tune and facilitate downstream processing.…”

Section: Da-inhibited Neuronsmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…The primate lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), a hub of higher-level cognitive functioning (Fuster, 2008;Bongard and Nieder, 2010;Eiselt and Nieder, 2013), receives particularly strong projections from dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain Björklund and Dunnett, 2007). DA neurons fire phasic bursts of action potentials with short latencies of 100 -150 ms in response to behaviorally relevant sensory events (Schultz, 1998;Matsumoto and Hikosaka, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dopamine Regulates Two Classes of Primate Prefrontal Neurons That Represent Sensory Signals

2013

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The lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), a hub of higher-level cognitive processing, is strongly modulated by midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons. The cellular mechanisms have been comprehensively studied in the context of short-term memory, but little is known about how DA regulates sensory inputs to PFC that precede and give rise to such memory activity. By preparing recipient cortical circuits for incoming signals, DA could be a powerful determinant of downstream cognitive processing. Here, we tested the hypothesis that prefrontal DA regulates the representation of sensory signals that are required for perceptual decisions. In rhesus monkeys trained to report the presence or absence of visual stimuli at varying levels of contrast, we simultaneously recorded extracellular single-unit activity and applied DA to the immediate vicinity of the neurons by micro-iontophoresis. We found that DA modulation of prefrontal neurons is not uniform but tailored to specialized neuronal classes. In one population of neurons, DA suppressed activity with high temporal precision but preserved signal/noise ratio. Neurons in this group had short visual response latencies and comprised all recorded narrow-spiking, putative interneurons. In a distinct population, DA increased excitability and enhanced signal/noise ratio by reducing response variability. These neurons had longer visual response latencies and were composed exclusively of broad-spiking, putative pyramidal neurons. By gating sensory inputs to PFC and subsequently strengthening the representation of sensory signals, DA might play an important role in shaping how the PFC initiates appropriate behavior in response to changes in the sensory environment.

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“…Overall, a similar proportion of neurons (B20%) encoding the abstract rule seems to be present in both species. Moreover, the strength of rule selectivity is comparable in the crow's NCL and in the PFC of monkeys 30,[32][33][34]40 . Rule selectivity in the NCL emerged gradually with long latencies, mirroring rule-coding activity in the PFC of primates 32 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…We therefore investigated the neuronal processing underlying task switching based on rules, a classical executive function task used in monkeys [30][31][32][33][34] , in behaving carrion crows. We report that the most prevalent single-cell activity represents behavioural rules in an abstract manner and can predict the crows' behavioural decisions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Abstract rule neurons in the endbrain support intelligent behaviour in corvid songbirds

2013

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Despite the lack of a layered neocortex and fundamental differences in endbrain organization in birds compared with mammals, intelligent species evolved from both vertebrate classes. Among birds, corvids show exceptional cognitive flexibility. Here we explore the neuronal foundation of corvid cognition by recording single-unit activity from an association area known as the nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL) while carrion crows make flexible rule-guided decisions, a hallmark of executive control functions. The most prevalent activity in NCL represents the behavioural rules, while abstracting over sample images and sensory modalities of the rule cues. Rule coding is weaker in error trials, thus predicting the crows' behavioural decisions. This suggests that the abstraction of general principles may be an important function of the NCL, mirroring the function of primate prefrontal cortex. These findings emphasize that intelligence in vertebrates does not necessarily rely on a neocortex but can be realized in endbrain circuitries that developed independently via convergent evolution.

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Representation of Abstract Quantitative Rules Applied to Spatial and Numerical Magnitudes in Primate Prefrontal Cortex

Cited by 64 publications

References 48 publications

Exploring the origin of the number-size congruency effect: Sensitivity or response bias?

Exploring the origin of the number-size congruency effect: Sensitivity or response bias?

Dopamine Regulates Two Classes of Primate Prefrontal Neurons That Represent Sensory Signals

Abstract rule neurons in the endbrain support intelligent behaviour in corvid songbirds

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