Reward modulates the association between sensory noise and brain activity during perceptual decision-making

Baeuchl, Christian; Kroemer, Nils B.; Pooseh, Shakoor; Petzold, Johannes; Bitzer, Sebastian; Thurm, Franka; Li, Shu‐Chen; Smolka, Michael N.

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107675

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…Most previous research on how humans learn has focused on specific sensory stimuli (Antzoulatos & Miller, 2011; Rainer et al, 2004; Yang & Maunsell, 2004), motor movements (Bassett et al, 2015; Grafton et al, 2002; Houweling et al, 2008; Musall et al, 2019), and rewards (Baeuchl et al, 2020; Serences, 2008; Shuler & Bear, 2006; Summerfield & Koechlin, 2010). These studies found that each area of learning is subserved by domain-specific brain areas, making it seem like all learning – including for entirely new tasks – depends on domainspecific regions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research has focused primarily on the neural correlates of learning specific stimuli. For example, studies investigating perceptual learning typically compare brain activity associated with highly trained versus untrained sensory stimuli (Antzoulatos & Miller, 2011; Rainer et al, 2004; Yang & Maunsell, 2004), studies on motor learning compare familiar and novel movements (Bassett et al, 2015; Grafton et al, 2002; Houweling et al, 2008; Musall et al, 2019), studies on classical and operant conditioning compare rewarded and unrewarded stimuli (Baeuchl et al, 2020; Serences, 2008; Shuler & Bear, 2006; Summerfield & Koechlin, 2010), and studies on repetition suppression compare repeated and non-repeated stimulus presentations (Henson et al, 2000; Wig et al, 2005). In all of these cases, what is being investigated is how a learned stimulus or action differs from a novel stimulus or action.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Not surprisingly, previous research focusing on comparing learned versus novel stimuli has mostly found that domain-specific mechanisms underlie each area of learning. After extensive training, visual stimuli are processed differently in the visual cortex (Deuker et al, 2013; Rainer et al, 2004; Serences, 2008; Serences et al, 2009; Shuler & Bear, 2006; Utzerath et al, 2017), motor actions are generated differently in the motor cortex (Bassett et al, 2015; Grafton et al, 2002; Houweling et al, 2008; Musall et al, 2019), and rewarded stimuli are processed differently in reward circuits of the brain (Baeuchl et al, 2020; Serences, 2008; Shuler & Bear, 2006; Summerfield & Koechlin, 2010). Based on this research, it is perhaps natural to hypothesize that the ability to learn completely novel tasks that rely on different perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes would rely on domain-specific brain areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Task learning is subserved by a domain-general brain network

Yeon

Larson

Rahnev

et al. 2022

Preprint

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One of the most important human faculties is the ability to acquire not just new memories but the capacity to perform entirely new tasks. However, little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying the learning of novel tasks. Specifically, it is unclear to what extent learning of different tasks depends on domain-general and/or domain-specific brain mechanisms. Here human subjects (N=45) learned to perform six new tasks while undergoing functional MRI. The different tasks required the engagement of perceptual, motor, and various cognitive processes (attention, expectation, speed-accuracy tradeoff, and metacognition). We found that a bilateral frontoparietal network was more active during the initial compared to the later stages of task learning, and that this effect was stronger for task variants requiring more new learning. Critically, the same frontoparietal network was engaged by all six tasks, demonstrating its domain generality. Finally, although task learning decreased the overall activity in the frontoparietal network, it increased the connectivity strength between the different nodes of that network. These results demonstrate the existence of a domain-general brain network whose activity and connectivity reflect learning for a wide variety of new tasks, and thus may underlie the human capacity for acquiring new abilities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Task learning is subserved by a domain-general brain network

Yeon

Larson

Rahnev

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Task learning is subserved by a domain-general brain network

Yeon,

Larson,

Rahnev

et al. 2024

Cerebral Cortex

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

One of the most important human faculties is the ability to acquire not just new memories but the capacity to perform entirely new tasks. However, little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying the learning of novel tasks. Specifically, it is unclear to what extent learning of different tasks depends on domain-general and/or domain-specific brain mechanisms. Here human subjects (n = 45) learned to perform 6 new tasks while undergoing functional MRI. The different tasks required the engagement of perceptual, motor, and various cognitive processes related to attention, expectation, speed-accuracy tradeoff, and metacognition. We found that a bilateral frontoparietal network was more active during the initial compared with the later stages of task learning, and that this effect was stronger for task variants requiring more new learning. Critically, the same frontoparietal network was engaged by all 6 tasks, demonstrating its domain generality. Finally, although task learning decreased the overall activity in the frontoparietal network, it increased the connectivity strength between the different nodes of that network. These results demonstrate the existence of a domain-general brain network whose activity and connectivity reflect learning for a variety of new tasks, and thus may underlie the human capacity for acquiring new abilities.

show abstract

Reward modulates the association between sensory noise and brain activity during perceptual decision-making

Cited by 2 publications

References 77 publications

Task learning is subserved by a domain-general brain network

Task learning is subserved by a domain-general brain network

Task learning is subserved by a domain-general brain network

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