The effects of declaratively maintaining and proactively proceduralizing novel stimulus-response mappings

Formica, Silvia; González-García, Carlos; Braß, Marcel

doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2020.104295

Cited by 17 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The same set of stimuli was used as in previous studies on instruction implementation (Formica, González-García, & Brass, 2020; González-García, Formica, Liefooghe, & Brass, 2020). It consisted of 1550 pictures, grouped in two macro categories: animate (non-human animals) and inanimate (vehicles and musical instruments) (Brady, Konkle, Alvarez, & Oliva, 2013; Brodeur, Guérard, & Bouras, 2014; Griffin, Holub, & Perona, 2007; Konkle, Brady, Alvarez, & Oliva, 2010).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…-Geisser correction is applied here and in all results where the sphericity assumption is violated. Such differences in performance between Implementation and Memorization are not surprising and can be at least partially attributed to the task-specific processes taking place after the occurrence of the target (Formica et al, 2020;Muhle-Karbe et al, 2017). Specifically, the Memorization task requires the comparison of the presented mapping to the encoded ones, the identification of the response side, and the execution of the intended response.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Neural oscillations track the maintenance and proceduralization of novel instructions

Formica

González-García

Senoussi

et al. 2020

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Humans are extremely efficient in rapidly and flexibly converting complex symbolic instructions into novel behaviors. Previous evidence and theoretical models suggest that the implementation of a novel instruction requires the reformatting of its declarative content into an action-oriented code optimized for the execution of the instructed behavior. While neuroimaging research focused on identifying the brain areas involved in such process, its temporal profile and electrophysiological characteristics remain unknown. In the present study, we recorded EEG while we asked participants to either simply maintain declaratively the content of novel S-R mappings for recognition or to proactively prepare for their implementation. By means of time-frequency analyses, we isolated the oscillatory features specifically associated with the proceduralization of the encoded instruction. Before the onset of the implementation target, we observed stronger delta/low-theta activity over frontal electrodes and a significant suppression in mu and beta activity over central electrodes. On the contrary, activity in the alpha band showed no differences between the two tasks. Together, these results support the crucial role attributed to prefrontal regions in orchestrating complex task setting and further extend on it by characterizing the temporal and frequency profile of this process. Moreover, we highlight the critical involvement of motor activity in the proactive preparation for novel instruction implementation. Significance StatementHumans developed the unique ability of converting novel instructions in effective behavior. This skill is associated with activity in frontoparietal brain regions, whose interplay supports the reformatting of the declarative content of the instruction into an action-guiding representation. However, the time-resolved unfolding of such cognitive processes is still poorly understood. Here, we investigated how oscillatory brain activity differed between simple maintenance and reformatting of novel instructions. In preparation to the target, we observed differences in lower frequencies over frontal regions, and oscillatory features of motor preparation. Together, these results suggest that instruction implementation is mediated by the exertion of top-down cognitive control, reflected in theta dynamics, and motor-related activation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Neural oscillations track the maintenance and proceduralization of novel instructions

Formica

González-García

Senoussi

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Thus, this localizer allowed us to test whether the selection of an S-R from WM engaged the same procedural signals elicited by encoding tasks with the intention to implement. With respect to the declarative templates, an intriguing question is what exactly is being reactivated, and how is this not present in the procedural localizer (which necessarily has to contain some declarative information as well (Formica et al, 2020a)). One possibility is that the specific demands of each localizer encourage differentiated coding strategies, that is, different readouts from WM could modulate the specific way in which each format is represented.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The two localizers were aimed at encouraging either a primarily procedural or a primarily declarative coding of new S-Rs. Although a localizer eliciting uniquely one of these two types of coding is hard to conceive (for instance, one could claim a declarative representation of the elements of a task is required before any procedural representation can emerge (Formica et al, 2020a)), our pattern analysis (see below) capitalized on the specific engagement of procedural and declarative strategies encouraged by each of these localizers.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frontoparietal action-oriented codes support novel instruction implementation

González-García

Formica

Wisniewski

et al. 2019

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12A key aspect of human cognitive flexibility concerns the ability to rapidly convert 13 complex symbolic instructions into novel behaviors. Previous research proposes 14 that this fast configuration is supported by two differentiated neurocognitive states, 15 namely, an initial declarative maintenance of task knowledge, and a progressive 16 transformation into a pragmatic, action-oriented state necessary for optimal task 17 execution. Furthermore, current models predict a crucial role of frontal and parietal 18 brain regions in this transformation. However, direct evidence for such 19 frontoparietal formatting of novel task representations is still lacking. Here, we 20 report the results of an fMRI experiment in which participants had to execute novel 21 instructed stimulus-response associations. We then used a multivariate pattern-22 tracking procedure to quantify the degree of neural activation of instructions in 23 declarative and procedural representational formats. This analysis revealed, for the 24 first time, format-unique representations of relevant task sets in frontoparietal 25 areas, prior to execution. Critically, the degree of procedural (but not declarative) 26 activation predicted subsequent behavioral performance. Our results shed light on 27 current debates on the architecture of cognitive control and working memory 28 systems, suggesting a contribution of frontoparietal regions to output gating 29 mechanisms that drive behavior. 30 31 32Some of the most advanced collaborative human achievements rely on our ability 33 to rapidly learn novel tasks. Instruction following constitutes a powerful instance of 34 this ability as it combines the flexibility to specify complex abstract relationships 35 with an efficiency far superior to other forms of task learning such as trial and error, 36 or reinforcement learning. These unique characteristics make it a distinctive skill 37 that separates humans from other species 1 . While recent years have witnessed 38 substantial progress in our understanding of instruction following, the neural and 39 cognitive mechanisms underlying this rapid transformation of complex symbolic 40 information into effective behavior are still poorly understood. Specifically, a critical 41 question that remains unresolved is whether a declarative representation of task 42 information is sufficient or whether an additional representational state, closely 43 linked to action, precedes optimal performance. 44Previous behavioral studies have consistently reported an intriguing signature of 45 instruction processing, namely, a reflexive activation of responses on the basis of 46 merely instructed stimulus-response (S-R) associations (defined as "intention-47 based reflexivity", or IBR). IBR occurs even when instructions are task-irrelevant 48 and have not been overtly executed before 2-7 , which suggests a rapid 49 configuration of instructed content predominantly towards action. Instruction 50 implementation also has a profound impact on brain activity, as shown by 5...

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“…To do so, declarative content is first encoded (e.g. "red") and then reformatted into an action-oriented procedural representation ("press key r") with significant cognitive costs of maintaining instructions in a declarative format until it is transformed into an action (see Formica et al, 2020). This type of translation is more automatic when there is a dimensional overlap between stimuli and response (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Adaptable, Open-Access Test Battery to Study the Fractionation of Executive-Functions in Diverse Populations

Zanini¹,

Miranda²,

Cogo-Moreira³

et al. 2020

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The umbrella-term ‘executive functions’ (EF) includes various domain-general, goal-directed cognitive abilities responsible for behavioral self-regulation. The influential unity and diversity model of EF posits the existence of three correlated yet separable executive domains: inhibition, shifting and updating. These domains may be influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) and culture, possibly due to the way EF tasks are devised and to biased choice of stimuli, focusing on first-world testees. Here, we propose a FREE (Free Research Executive Function Evaluation) test battery that includes two open-access tasks for each of the three abovementioned executive domains to allow latent variables to be obtained. The tasks were selected from those that have been shown to be representative of each domain, that are not copyrighted and do not require special hardware/software to be administered. These tasks were adapted for use in populations with varying SES/schooling levels by simplifying tasks/instructions and using easily-recognized stimuli such as pictures. Items are answered verbally and tasks are self-paced to minimize interference from individual differences in psychomotor and perceptual speed, to better isolate executive from other cognitive abilities. We tested these tasks on 146 early adolescents (aged 9-15 years) of both sexes and varying SES, because this is the age group in which the executive domains of interest become distinguishable and in order to confirm that SES effects were minimized. Performance was determined by Rate Correct Scores (correct answers divided by total time taken to complete blocks/trial), which consider speed-accuracy trade-offs. Scores were sensitive to the expected improvement in performance with age and rarely/inconsistently affected by sex and SES, as expected, with no floor or ceiling effects, or skewed distribution, thus suggesting their adequacy for diverse populations in these respects. Using structural equation modeling, evidence based on internal structure was obtained by replicating the three correlated-factor solution proposed by the authors of the model. We conclude that the FREE test battery, which is open access and described in detail to encourage replication, may be useful for research in a wide range of populations.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The effects of declaratively maintaining and proactively proceduralizing novel stimulus-response mappings

Cited by 17 publications

References 46 publications

Neural oscillations track the maintenance and proceduralization of novel instructions

Neural oscillations track the maintenance and proceduralization of novel instructions

Frontoparietal action-oriented codes support novel instruction implementation

An Adaptable, Open-Access Test Battery to Study the Fractionation of Executive-Functions in Diverse Populations

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