Unsigned surprise but not reward magnitude modulates the integration of motor elements during actions

Abstract

It seems natural that motor responses unfold smoothly and that we are able to easily concatenate different components of movements to achieve goal-directed actions. Theoretical frameworks suggest that different motor features have to be bound to each other to achieve a coherent action. Yet, the nature of the “glue” (i.e., bindings) between elements constituting a motor sequence and enabling a smooth unfolding of motor acts is not well understood. We examined in how far motor feature bindings are affected by reward magnitude or the effects of an unsigned surprise signal. We show that the consistency of action file binding strength is modulated by unsigned surprise, but not by reward magnitude. On a conceptual and theoretical level, the results provide links between frameworks, which have until now not been brought into connection. In particular, theoretical accounts stating that only the unexpectedness (surprisingness) is essential for action control are connected to meta-control accounts of human action control.

Predictions about reward outcomes in rhesus monkeys.

“…Neuroimaging studies of humans invoke similar response in anterior cingulate (Alexander & Brown, 2019; Fouragnan et al, 2019). Along these lines, some works suggest that it is this kind of surprise signal that drives motor outputs and control of actions (Jamous et al, 2023), which could apply to the looking behavior focused on here. Similarly, some evidence from developmental psychology suggests that “surprise” as measured by looking time tasks can also engage the anterior cingulate cortex (Berger & Posner, 2022).…”