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Stuyck H, Demeyer F, Bratanov C, Cleeremans A, Van den Bussche E. Insight and non-insight problem solving: A heart rate variability study. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2024; 77:1462-1484. [PMID: 37688497 DOI: 10.1177/17470218231202519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Occasionally, problems are solved with a sudden Aha! moment (insight), while the mundane approach to solving problems is analytical (non-insight). At first glance, non-insight appears to depend on the availability and taxation of cognitive resources to execute the step-by-step approach, whereas insight does not, or to a lesser extent. However, this remains debated. To investigate the reliance of both solution types on cognitive resources, we assessed the involvement of the prefrontal cortex using vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) as an index. Participants (N = 68) solved 70 compound remote associates word puzzles solvable with insight and non-insight. Before, during, and after solving the word puzzles, we measured the vmHRV. Our results showed that resting-state vmHRV (trait) showed a negative association with behavioural performance for both solution types. This might reflect inter-individual differences in inhibitory control. As the solution search requires one to think of remote associations, inhibitory control might hamper rather than aid this process. Furthermore, we observed, for both solution types, a vmHRV increase from resting-state to solution search (state), lingering on in the post-task recovery period. This could mark the increase of prefrontal resources to promote an open-minded stance, essential for divergent thinking, which arguably is crucial for this task. Our findings suggest that, at a general level, both solution types share common aspects. However, a closer analysis of early and late solutions and puzzle difficulty suggested that metacognitive differentiation between insight and non-insight improved with higher trait vmHRV, and that a unique association between trait vmHRV and puzzle difficulty was present for each solution type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Stuyck
- Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Research in Cognition and Neurosciences, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Febe Demeyer
- Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christo Bratanov
- Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Axel Cleeremans
- Center for Research in Cognition and Neurosciences, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Eva Van den Bussche
- Brain and Cognition, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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2
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Desbordes T, King JR, Dehaene S. Tracking the neural codes for words and phrases during semantic composition, working-memory storage, and retrieval. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113847. [PMID: 38412098 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to compose successive words into a meaningful phrase is a characteristic feature of human cognition, yet its neural mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we analyze the cortical mechanisms of semantic composition using magnetoencephalography (MEG) while participants read one-word, two-word, and five-word noun phrases and compared them with a subsequent image. Decoding of MEG signals revealed three processing stages. During phrase comprehension, the representation of individual words was sustained for a variable duration depending on phrasal context. During the delay period, the word code was replaced by a working-memory code whose activation increased with semantic complexity. Finally, the speed and accuracy of retrieval depended on semantic complexity and was faster for surface than for deep semantic properties. In conclusion, we propose that the brain initially encodes phrases using factorized dimensions for successive words but later compresses them in working memory and requires a period of decompression to access them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Desbordes
- Meta AI, Paris, France; Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Jean-Rémi King
- Meta AI, Paris, France; École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Stanislas Dehaene
- Université Paris Saclay, INSERM, CEA, Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Collège de France, PSL University, Paris, France
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3
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Yiling Y, Klon-Lipok J, Shapcott K, Lazar A, Singer W. Dynamic fading memory and expectancy effects in the monkey primary visual cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314855121. [PMID: 38354261 PMCID: PMC10895277 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314855121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to investigate the involvement of the primary visual cortex (V1) in working memory (WM), parallel, multisite recordings of multi-unit activity were obtained from monkey V1 while the animals performed a delayed match-to-sample (DMS) task. During the delay period, V1 population firing rate vectors maintained a lingering trace of the sample stimulus that could be reactivated by intervening impulse stimuli that enhanced neuronal firing. This fading trace of the sample did not require active engagement of the monkeys in the DMS task and likely reflects the intrinsic dynamics of recurrent cortical networks in lower visual areas. This renders an active, attention-dependent involvement of V1 in the maintenance of WM contents unlikely. By contrast, population responses to the test stimulus depended on the probabilistic contingencies between sample and test stimuli. Responses to tests that matched expectations were reduced which agrees with concepts of predictive coding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yiling
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main60528, Germany
| | - Johanna Klon-Lipok
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main60438, Germany
| | - Katharine Shapcott
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main60528, Germany
| | - Andreea Lazar
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main60528, Germany
| | - Wolf Singer
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main60528, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main60438, Germany
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Frankfurt am Main60438, Germany
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4
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Fazekas P, Cleeremans A, Overgaard M. A construct-first approach to consciousness science. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 156:105480. [PMID: 38008237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
We propose a new approach to consciousness science that instead of comparing complex theoretical positions deconstructs existing theories, takes their central assumptions while disregarding their auxiliary hypotheses, and focuses its investigations on the main constructs that these central assumptions rely on (like global workspace, recurrent processing, metarepresentation). Studying how these main constructs are anchored in lower-level constructs characterizing underlying neural processing will not just offer an alternative to theory comparisons but will also take us one step closer to empirical resolutions. Moreover, exploring the compatibility and possible combinations of the lower-level constructs will allow for new theoretical syntheses. This construct-first approach will improve our ability to understand the commitments of existing theories and pave the way for moving beyond them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Fazekas
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Axel Cleeremans
- Center for Research in Cognition & Neurosciences, Université Libre De Bruxelles, 50 avenue F.D. Roosevelt CP191, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Morten Overgaard
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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5
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Huang Q, Luo M, Mi Y, Luo H. "Leader-Follower" Dynamic Perturbation Manipulates Multi-Item Working Memory in Humans. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0472-22.2023. [PMID: 37914409 PMCID: PMC10668215 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0472-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Manipulating working memory (WM) is a central yet challenging notion. Previous studies suggest that WM items with varied memory strengths reactivate at different latencies, supporting a time-based mechanism. Motivated by this view, here we developed a purely bottom-up "Leader-Follower" behavioral approach to manipulate WM in humans. Specifically, task-irrelevant flickering color disks that are bound to each of the memorized items are presented during the delay period, and the ongoing luminance sequences of the color disks follow a Leader-Follower relationship, that is, a hundreds of milliseconds temporal lag. We show that this dynamic behavioral approach leads to better memory performance for the item associated with the temporally advanced luminance sequence (Leader) than the item with the temporally lagged luminance sequence (Follower), yet with limited effectiveness. Together, our findings constitute evidence for the essential role of temporal dynamics in WM operation and offer a promising, noninvasive WM manipulation approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoli Huang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Department of Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Minghao Luo
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yuanyuan Mi
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Huan Luo
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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6
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Molle L, Coste A, Benoit CE, Derosiere G, Janaqi S, Perrey S, Dupeyron A. Inhalation boosts perceptual awareness and decision speed. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:516-523. [PMID: 37529836 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00492.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of consciousness is one of biology's biggest mysteries. During the past two decades, a major effort has been made to identify the neural correlates of consciousness, but in comparison, little is known about the physiological mechanisms underlying first-person subjective experience. Attention is considered the gateway of information to consciousness. Recent work suggests that the breathing phase (i.e., inhalation vs. exhalation) modulates attention, in such a way that attention directed toward exteroceptive information would increase during inhalation. One key hypothesis emerging from this work is that inhalation would improve perceptual awareness and near-threshold decision-making. The present study directly tested this hypothesis. We recorded the breathing rhythms of 30 humans performing a near-threshold decision-making task, in which they had to decide whether a liminal Gabor was tilted to the right or the left (objective decision task) and then to rate their perceptual awareness of the Gabor orientation (subjective decision task). In line with our hypothesis, the data revealed that, relative to exhalation, inhalation improves perceptual awareness and speeds up objective decision-making, without impairing accuracy. Overall, the present study builds on timely questions regarding the physiological mechanisms underlying consciousness and shows that breathing shapes the emergence of subjective experience and decision-making.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Breathing is a ubiquitous biological rhythm in animal life. However, little is known about its effect on consciousness and decision-making. Here, we measured the respiratory rhythm of humans performing a near-threshold discrimination experiment. We show that inhalation, compared with exhalation, improves perceptual awareness and accelerates decision-making while leaving accuracy unaffected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Molle
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nîmes University Hospital, Univ Montpellier, Nîmes, France
| | - Alexandre Coste
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
| | - Charles-Etienne Benoit
- Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, EA 7424, Univ Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Gerard Derosiere
- Institute of Neuroscience, Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center - Impact team, Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon 1 University, Bron, France
| | - Stefan Janaqi
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
| | - Stéphane Perrey
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
| | - Arnaud Dupeyron
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nîmes University Hospital, Univ Montpellier, Nîmes, France
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7
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Yu J, Zhou Y, Fu Y, Wang C, Zhou J, Shen M, Chen H. The linear impact of visual working memory load on visual awareness: Evidence from motion-induced blindness. Conscious Cogn 2023; 111:103520. [PMID: 37100001 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2023.103520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite the close relationship between visual working memory (VWM) and visual awareness, the question of how these two constructs interact with each other is still under debate. The current study aimed to further address this issue by investigating whether and how visual awareness is influenced by VWM load. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to perform a motion-induced blindness (MIB) task while simultaneously memorizing different numbers of items in VWM. The results indicated that the latency of MIB was prolonged gradually as the VWM load increased, revealing a linear trend in the modulation effect of VWM load on visual awareness. Experiments 2 and 3 tested the other potential explanations and validated the initial finding by confirming that VWM load was indeed responsible for the observed effect on visual awareness. These findings have important implications for a better understanding of the relationship between VWM and visual awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahan Yu
- Department of Psychology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, China; Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Yiling Zhou
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Yingtao Fu
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Ci Wang
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Jifan Zhou
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, China.
| | - Mowei Shen
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, China.
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, China; Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, USA.
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8
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Michel M. Confidence in consciousness research. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2023; 14:e1628. [PMID: 36205300 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
To study (un)conscious perception and test hypotheses about consciousness, researchers need procedures for determining whether subjects consciously perceive stimuli or not. This article is an introduction to a family of procedures called "confidence-based procedures," which consist in interpreting metacognitive indicators as indicators of consciousness. I assess the validity and accuracy of these procedures, and answer a series of common objections to their use in consciousness research. I conclude that confidence-based procedures are valid for assessing consciousness, and, in most cases, accurate enough for our practical and scientific purposes. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics Philosophy > Consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Michel
- Center for Mind, Brain and Consciousness, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Pedale T, Fontan A, Grill F, Bergström F, Eriksson J. Nonconscious information can be identified as task-relevant but not prioritized in working memory. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2287-2301. [PMID: 35667703 PMCID: PMC9977358 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Two critical features of working memory are the identification and appropriate use of task-relevant information while avoiding distraction. Here, in 3 experiments, we explored if these features can be achieved also for nonconscious stimuli. Participants performed a delayed match-to-sample task in which task relevance of 2 competing stimuli was indicated by a cue, and continuous flash suppression was used to manipulate the conscious/nonconscious visual experience. Experiment 1 revealed better-than-chance performance with nonconscious stimuli, demonstrating goal-directed use of nonconscious task-relevant information. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the cue that defined task relevance must be conscious to allow such goal-directed use. In Experiment 3, multi-voxel pattern analyses of brain activity revealed that only the target was prioritized and maintained during conscious trials. Conversely, during nonconscious trials, both target and distractor were maintained. However, decoding of task relevance during the probe/test phase demonstrated identification of both target and distractor information. These results show that identification of task-relevant information can operate also on nonconscious material. However, they do not support the prioritization of nonconscious task-relevant information, thus suggesting a mismatch in the attentional mechanisms involved during conscious and nonconscious working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Pedale
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Physiology Section, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Aurelie Fontan
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Physiology Section, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Filip Grill
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Bergström
- CINEICC, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, 3001-802 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Johan Eriksson
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Physiology Section, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
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10
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Dissociable rhythmic mechanisms enhance memory for conscious and nonconscious perceptual contents. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2211147119. [PMID: 36302042 PMCID: PMC9636912 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211147119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the neural mechanisms of conscious and unconscious experience is a major goal of fundamental and translational neuroscience. Here, we target the early visual cortex with a protocol of noninvasive, high-resolution alternating current stimulation while participants performed a delayed target–probe discrimination task and reveal dissociable mechanisms of mnemonic processing for conscious and unconscious perceptual contents. Entraining β-rhythms in bilateral visual areas preferentially enhanced short-term memory for seen information, whereas α-entrainment in the same region preferentially enhanced short-term memory for unseen information. The short-term memory improvements were frequency-specific and long-lasting. The results add a mechanistic foundation to existing theories of consciousness, call for revisions to these theories, and contribute to the development of nonpharmacological therapeutics for improving visual cortical processing.
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11
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Courtney SM. 'Working memory is a distributed dynamic process'. Cogn Neurosci 2022; 13:208-209. [PMID: 36200905 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2022.2131747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
I propose working memory be considered, not as a process for static maintenance in a particular set of brain regions, but rather as a dynamic process unfolding to serve future needs. Brain regions such as the hippocampus, or sensory and motor regions, may be necessarily recruited during this process, depending on task demands. Information stored in working memory is thus a distributed representation reflected in the structural and functional state of multiple brain areas and the trajectory of that state over time. Recent research is discussed in support of this view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Courtney
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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12
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Becker S, Nold A, Tchumatchenko T. Modulation of working memory duration by synaptic and astrocytic mechanisms. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010543. [PMID: 36191056 PMCID: PMC9560596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Short-term synaptic plasticity and modulations of the presynaptic vesicle release rate are key components of many working memory models. At the same time, an increasing number of studies suggests a potential role of astrocytes in modulating higher cognitive function such as WM through their influence on synaptic transmission. Which influence astrocytic signaling could have on the stability and duration of WM representations, however, is still unclear. Here, we introduce a slow, activity-dependent astrocytic regulation of the presynaptic release probability in a synaptic attractor model of WM. We compare and analyze simulations of a simple WM protocol in firing rate and spiking networks with and without astrocytic regulation, and underpin our observations with analyses of the phase space dynamics in the rate network. We find that the duration and stability of working memory representations are altered by astrocytic signaling and by noise. We show that astrocytic signaling modulates the mean duration of WM representations. Moreover, if the astrocytic regulation is strong, a slow presynaptic timescale introduces a ‘window of vulnerability’, during which WM representations are easily disruptable by noise before being stabilized. We identify two mechanisms through which noise from different sources in the network can either stabilize or destabilize WM representations. Our findings suggest that (i) astrocytic regulation can act as a crucial determinant for the duration of WM representations in synaptic attractor models of WM, and (ii) that astrocytic signaling could facilitate different mechanisms for volitional top-down control of WM representations and their duration. The ability to form memories and recall them is one of the fascinating features of our brain. Working memory operates like a memory scratch pad storing ongoing information for further processing. Here, we present a computational model dissecting the influence of astrocytes on the stability and duration of working memories. We find that a long astrocytic time constant can influence the mean duration of working memory representations and generate a “window of vulnerability”, during which some memories are tagged for long-term survival while some are terminated. The fraction of memories in the survival and termination groups could be regulated by adjusting the strength of astrocytic feedback or its time constant. This indicates that astrocytic signaling can be viewed as a candidate mechanism for top-down control of working memory representations and their duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Becker
- Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Theory of Neural Dynamics group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Nold
- Theory of Neural Dynamics group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Life and Brain Center, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tatjana Tchumatchenko
- Theory of Neural Dynamics group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Life and Brain Center, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Physiological Chemistry, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- * E-mail:
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13
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Barton AU, Valle-Inclán F, Cowan N, Hackley SA. Unconsciously registered items reduce working memory capacity. Conscious Cogn 2022; 105:103399. [PMID: 36108591 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2022.103399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The assumption that the contents of consciousness correspond to those of working memory (WM) is challenged by evidence that stimuli masked from awareness can be retained for several seconds (Soto et al., 2011; Bergström & Eriksson, 2015). To assess whether conscious and unconscious items compete in a unitary WM store we conducted an experiment in which some of the memory items in an array were masked from conscious sight using continuous flash suppression (CFS) while others remained visible. After a retention interval, participants decided whether the probed item (either masked or visible) had changed its orientation. Behavioral results indicated that change detection for visible items was significantly impaired when masked items were present, suggesting that masked items either displaced or reduced the precision of visible items in WM. However, change detection for masked items was at chance levels, indicating that these items were not stored. The unsuccessful attempt to encode them may have drawn upon a common pool of attentional resources needed to retain or retrieve visible items. Contralateral Delay Activity, an EEG index of net WM load, failed to temporally localize this interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy U Barton
- Northwest Missouri State University, United States.
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14
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Abstract
The extent to which we are affected by perceptual input of which we are unaware is widely debated. By measuring neural responses to sensory stimulation, neuroscientific data could complement behavioral results with valuable evidence. Here we review neuroscientific findings of processing of high-level information, as well as interactions with attention and memory. Although the results are mixed, we find initial support for processing object categories and words, possibly to the semantic level, as well as emotional expressions. Robust neural evidence for face individuation and integration of sentences or scenes is lacking. Attention affects the processing of stimuli that are not consciously perceived, and such stimuli may exogenously but not endogenously capture attention when relevant, and be maintained in memory over time. Sources of inconsistency in the literature include variability in control for awareness as well as individual differences, calling for future studies that adopt stricter measures of awareness and probe multiple processes within subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liad Mudrik
- School of Psychological Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel;
| | - Leon Y Deouell
- Department of Psychology and The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel;
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15
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Gambarota F, Tsuchiya N, Pastore M, Di Polito N, Sessa P. Unconscious Visual Working Memory: A critical review and Bayesian meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104618. [PMID: 35289273 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between consciousness and working memory (WM) has been recently debated both at the theoretical and methodological levels (Persuh et al., 2018; Velichkovsky, 2017). While there is behavioral and neural evidence that argues for the existence of unconscious WM, several methodological concerns have been raised, rendering this issue highly controversial. To address the robustness of the previous findings, here we adopt a meta-analytic approach to estimate the effect size and heterogeneity of the previously reported unconscious WM results, also including unpublished results. We used meta-regression to isolate relevant experimental variables, in particular, consciousness manipulation and the WM paradigm to identify the source of the heterogeneity in the reported effect size of the unconscious WM. Our meta-analysis supports the existence of the unconscious WM effect and critically reveals several experimental variables that contribute to relevant heterogeneity. Our analysis clarifies several theoretical and methodological issues. We recommend that future studies explicitly operationalize the definition of consciousness, standardize the methodology and systematically explore the role of critical variables for the unconscious WM effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Gambarota
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Via Giuseppe Orus, 2, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Naotsugu Tsuchiya
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health & School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Advanced Telecommunications Research Computational Neuroscience Laboratories, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto 619-0288, Japan.
| | - Massimiliano Pastore
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Nicola Di Polito
- Medical Neurosciences Program, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Charitépl 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Paola Sessa
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Via Giuseppe Orus, 2, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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16
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Bowman H, Jones W, Pincham H, Fleming S, Cleeremans A, Smith M. Modelling the simultaneous encoding/serial experience theory of the perceptual moment: a blink of meta-experience. Neurosci Conscious 2022; 2022:niac003. [PMID: 35242362 PMCID: PMC8889941 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niac003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One way to understand a system is to explore how its behaviour degrades when it is overloaded. This approach can be applied to understanding conscious perception by presenting stimuli in rapid succession in the 'same' perceptual event/moment. In previous work, we have identified a striking dissociation during the perceptual moment, between what is encoded into working memory [Lag-1 sparing in the attentional blink (AB)] and what is consciously perceived (Lag-1 impairing in the experiential blink). This paper links this dissociation to what, taking inspiration from the metacognition literature, could be called meta-experience; i.e. how the ability to track and comment on one's visual experience with subjectivity ratings reflects objective performance. Specifically, we provide evidence that the information (in bits) associated with an encoding into working memory decouples from the experiential reflection upon that perceptual/encoding event and that this decoupling is largest when there is the greatest perceptual overload. This is the meta-experiential blink. Meta-experiential self-observation is common to many computational models, including connectionist interpretations of consciousness, Bayesian observers and the readout-enhanced simultaneous type/serial token (reSTST) model. We assess how our meta-experiential blink data could be modelled using the concept of self-observation, providing model fits to behavioural and electroencephalogram responses in the reSTST model. We discuss the implications of our computational modelling of parallel encoding but serial experience for theories of conscious perception. Specifically, we (i) inform theories of Lag-1 sparing during the AB and (ii) consider the implications for the global workspace theory of conscious perception and higher-order theories of consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard Bowman
- School of Computing, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF, UK
| | - William Jones
- School of Computing, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF, UK
| | - Hannah Pincham
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Steve Fleming
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, and Max Planck University College London Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, 12, Queen Square, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Axel Cleeremans
- Consciousness, Cognition & Computation Group, Center for Research in Cognition & Neuroscience, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles, 50 ave. F.-D. Roosevelt CP191, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Murray Smith
- School of Arts, University of Kent, Jarman Building, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7UG, UK
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17
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Pollmann S, Schneider WX. Working memory and active sampling of the environment: Medial temporal contributions. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 187:339-357. [PMID: 35964982 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823493-8.00029-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Working memory (WM) refers to the ability to maintain and actively process information-either derived from perception or long-term memory (LTM)-for intelligent thought and action. This chapter focuses on the contributions of the temporal lobe, particularly medial temporal lobe (MTL) to WM. First, neuropsychological evidence for the involvement of MTL in WM maintenance is reviewed, arguing for a crucial role in the case of retaining complex relational bindings between memorized features. Next, MTL contributions at the level of neural mechanisms are covered-with a focus on WM encoding and maintenance, including interactions with ventral temporal cortex. Among WM use processes, we focus on active sampling of environmental information, a key input source to capacity-limited WM. MTL contributions to the bidirectional relationship between active sampling and memory are highlighted-WM control of active sampling and sampling as a way of selecting input to WM. Memory-based sampling studies relying on scene and object inspection, visual-based exploration behavior (e.g., vicarious behavior), and memory-guided visual search are reviewed. The conclusion is that MTL serves an important function in the selection of information from perception and transfer from LTM to capacity-limited WM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Pollmann
- Department of Psychology and Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Werner X Schneider
- Department of Psychology and Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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18
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Gresch D, Boettcher SEP, van Ede F, Nobre AC. Shielding working-memory representations from temporally predictable external interference. Cognition 2021; 217:104915. [PMID: 34600356 PMCID: PMC8543071 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Protecting working-memory content from distracting external sensory inputs and intervening tasks is an ubiquitous demand in daily life. Here, we ask whether and how temporal expectations about external events can help mitigate effects of such interference during working-memory retention. We manipulated the temporal predictability of interfering items that occurred during the retention period of a visual working-memory task and report that temporal expectations reduce the detrimental influence of external interference on subsequent memory performance. Moreover, to determine if the protective effects of temporal expectations rely on distractor suppression or involve shielding of internal representations, we compared effects after irrelevant distractors that could be ignored vs. interrupters that required a response. Whereas distractor suppression may be sufficient to confer protection from predictable distractors, any benefits after interruption are likely to involve memory shielding. We found similar benefits of temporal expectations after both types of interference. We conclude that temporal expectations may play an important role in safeguarding behaviour based on working memory - acting through mechanisms that include the shielding of internal content from external interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Gresch
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Sage E P Boettcher
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Freek van Ede
- Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anna C Nobre
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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19
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Do Q, Hasselmo ME. Neural circuits and symbolic processing. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2021; 186:107552. [PMID: 34763073 PMCID: PMC10121157 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2021.107552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The ability to use symbols is a defining feature of human intelligence. However, neuroscience has yet to explain the fundamental neural circuit mechanisms for flexibly representing and manipulating abstract concepts. This article will review the research on neural models for symbolic processing. The review first focuses on the question of how symbols could possibly be represented in neural circuits. The review then addresses how neural symbolic representations could be flexibly combined to meet a wide range of reasoning demands. Finally, the review assesses the research on program synthesis and proposes that the most flexible neural representation of symbolic processing would involve the capacity to rapidly synthesize neural operations analogous to lambda calculus to solve complex cognitive tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Do
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| | - Michael E Hasselmo
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
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20
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Froudist-Walsh S, Bliss DP, Ding X, Rapan L, Niu M, Knoblauch K, Zilles K, Kennedy H, Palomero-Gallagher N, Wang XJ. A dopamine gradient controls access to distributed working memory in the large-scale monkey cortex. Neuron 2021; 109:3500-3520.e13. [PMID: 34536352 PMCID: PMC8571070 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine is required for working memory, but how it modulates the large-scale cortex is unknown. Here, we report that dopamine receptor density per neuron, measured by autoradiography, displays a macroscopic gradient along the macaque cortical hierarchy. This gradient is incorporated in a connectome-based large-scale cortex model endowed with multiple neuron types. The model captures an inverted U-shaped dependence of working memory on dopamine and spatial patterns of persistent activity observed in over 90 experimental studies. Moreover, we show that dopamine is crucial for filtering out irrelevant stimuli by enhancing inhibition from dendrite-targeting interneurons. Our model revealed that an activity-silent memory trace can be realized by facilitation of inter-areal connections and that adjusting cortical dopamine induces a switch from this internal memory state to distributed persistent activity. Our work represents a cross-level understanding from molecules and cell types to recurrent circuit dynamics underlying a core cognitive function distributed across the primate cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel P Bliss
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Xingyu Ding
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | | | - Meiqi Niu
- Research Centre Jülich, INM-1, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kenneth Knoblauch
- INSERM U846, Stem Cell & Brain Research Institute, 69500 Bron, France; Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I, 69003 Lyon, France
| | - Karl Zilles
- Research Centre Jülich, INM-1, Jülich, Germany
| | - Henry Kennedy
- INSERM U846, Stem Cell & Brain Research Institute, 69500 Bron, France; Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I, 69003 Lyon, France; Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology CAS, Shanghai, China
| | - Nicola Palomero-Gallagher
- Research Centre Jülich, INM-1, Jülich, Germany; C. & O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Xiao-Jing Wang
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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21
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Wang XJ. 50 years of mnemonic persistent activity: quo vadis? Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:888-902. [PMID: 34654556 PMCID: PMC9087306 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Half a century ago persistent spiking activity in the neocortex was discovered to be a neural substrate of working memory. Since then scientists have sought to understand this core cognitive function across biological and computational levels. Studies are reviewed here that cumulatively lend support to a synaptic theory of recurrent circuits for mnemonic persistent activity that depends on various cellular and network substrates and is mathematically described by a multiple-attractor network model. Crucially, a mnemonic attractor state of the brain is consistent with temporal variations and heterogeneity across neurons in a subspace of population activity. Persistent activity should be broadly understood as a contrast to decaying transients. Mechanisms in the absence of neural firing ('activity-silent state') are suitable for passive short-term memory but not for working memory - which is characterized by executive control for filtering out distractors, limited capacity, and internal manipulation of information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Wang
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 20003, USA.
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22
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Pérez P, Madsen J, Banellis L, Türker B, Raimondo F, Perlbarg V, Valente M, Niérat MC, Puybasset L, Naccache L, Similowski T, Cruse D, Parra LC, Sitt JD. Conscious processing of narrative stimuli synchronizes heart rate between individuals. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109692. [PMID: 34525363 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart rate has natural fluctuations that are typically ascribed to autonomic function. Recent evidence suggests that conscious processing can affect the timing of the heartbeat. We hypothesized that heart rate is modulated by conscious processing and therefore dependent on attentional focus. To test this, we leverage the observation that neural processes synchronize between subjects by presenting an identical narrative stimulus. As predicted, we find significant inter-subject correlation of heart rate (ISC-HR) when subjects are presented with an auditory or audiovisual narrative. Consistent with our hypothesis, we find that ISC-HR is reduced when subjects are distracted from the narrative, and higher ISC-HR predicts better recall of the narrative. Finally, patients with disorders of consciousness have lower ISC-HR, as compared to healthy individuals. We conclude that heart rate fluctuations are partially driven by conscious processing, depend on attentional state, and may represent a simple metric to assess conscious state in unresponsive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Pérez
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, 75013 Paris, France; Inserm U 1127, 75013 Paris, France; CNRS UMR 7225, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Jens Madsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leah Banellis
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, England; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, England
| | - Bașak Türker
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, 75013 Paris, France; Inserm U 1127, 75013 Paris, France; CNRS UMR 7225, 75013 Paris, France
| | | | - Vincent Perlbarg
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facility, iCONICS, IHU-A-ICM, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Paris, France
| | | | - Marie-Cécile Niérat
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMRS1158 Neurophysiologie Respiratoire Expérimentale et Clinique, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Louis Puybasset
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Pitié-Salpetrière Hospital, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, LIB, Paris, France
| | - Lionel Naccache
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, 75013 Paris, France; Inserm U 1127, 75013 Paris, France; CNRS UMR 7225, 75013 Paris, France; Department of Neurophysiology, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpetrière, AP-HP, 75013 Paris, France; Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Thomas Similowski
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMRS1158 Neurophysiologie Respiratoire Expérimentale et Clinique, 75005 Paris, France; AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire APHP-Sorbonne Université, site Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Pneumologie, Médecine Intensive et Réanimation (Département R3S), 75013 Paris, France
| | - Damian Cruse
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, England; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, England
| | - Lucas C Parra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jacobo D Sitt
- Paris Brain Institute, ICM, 75013 Paris, France; Inserm U 1127, 75013 Paris, France; CNRS UMR 7225, 75013 Paris, France.
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23
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Stein T, Kaiser D, Fahrenfort JJ, van Gaal S. The human visual system differentially represents subjectively and objectively invisible stimuli. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001241. [PMID: 33951043 PMCID: PMC8128378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of unconscious processing requires a measure of conscious awareness. Awareness measures can be either subjective (based on participant's report) or objective (based on perceptual performance). The preferred awareness measure depends on the theoretical position about consciousness and may influence conclusions about the extent of unconscious processing and about the neural correlates of consciousness. We obtained functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements from 43 subjects while they viewed masked faces and houses that were either subjectively or objectively invisible. Even for objectively invisible (perceptually indiscriminable) stimuli, we found significant category information in both early, lower-level visual areas and in higher-level visual cortex, although representations in anterior, category-selective ventrotemporal areas were less robust. For subjectively invisible stimuli, similar to visible stimuli, there was a clear posterior-to-anterior gradient in visual cortex, with stronger category information in ventrotemporal cortex than in early visual cortex. For objectively invisible stimuli, however, category information remained virtually unchanged from early visual cortex to object- and category-selective visual areas. These results demonstrate that although both objectively and subjectively invisible stimuli are represented in visual cortex, the extent of unconscious information processing is influenced by the measurement approach. Furthermore, our data show that subjective and objective approaches are associated with different neural correlates of consciousness and thus have implications for neural theories of consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Stein
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel Kaiser
- Department of Psychology, University of York, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes J. Fahrenfort
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cognitive Psychology, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Simon van Gaal
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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24
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Chota S, Van der Stigchel S. Dynamic and flexible transformation and reallocation of visual working memory representations. VISUAL COGNITION 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2021.1891168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samson Chota
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Van der Stigchel
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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25
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Lorenc ES, Mallett R, Lewis-Peacock JA. Distraction in Visual Working Memory: Resistance is Not Futile. Trends Cogn Sci 2021; 25:228-239. [PMID: 33397602 PMCID: PMC7878345 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Over half a century of research focused on understanding how working memory is capacity constrained has overshadowed the fact that it is also remarkably resistant to interference. Protecting goal-relevant information from distraction is a cornerstone of cognitive function that involves a multifaceted collection of control processes and storage mechanisms. Here, we discuss recent advances in cognitive psychology and neuroscience that have produced new insights into the nature of visual working memory and its ability to resist distraction. We propose that distraction resistance should be an explicit component in any model of working memory and that understanding its behavioral and neural correlates is essential for building a comprehensive understanding of real-world memory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S Lorenc
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Remington Mallett
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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26
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Abstract
Consciousness has evolved and is a feature of all animals with sufficiently complex nervous systems. It is, therefore, primarily a problem for biology, rather than physics. In this review, I will consider three aspects of consciousness: level of consciousness, whether we are awake or in a coma; the contents of consciousness, what determines how a small amount of sensory information is associated with subjective experience, while the rest is not; and meta-consciousness, the ability to reflect upon our subjective experiences and, importantly, to share them with others. I will discuss and compare current theories of the neural and cognitive mechanisms involved in producing these three aspects of consciousness and conclude that the research in this area is flourishing and has already succeeded to delineate these mechanisms in surprising detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris D Frith
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging at University College London, UK
- Institute of Philosophy, Institute of Advanced Study, University of London, UK
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27
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Li J, Huang Q, Han Q, Mi Y, Luo H. Temporally coherent perturbation of neural dynamics during retention alters human multi-item working memory. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 201:102023. [PMID: 33617918 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Temporarily storing a list of items in working memory (WM), a fundamental ability in cognition, has been posited to rely on the temporal dynamics of multi-item neural representations during retention. However, the causal evidence, particularly in human subjects, is still lacking, let alone WM manipulation. Here, we develop a novel "dynamic perturbation" approach to manipulate the relative memory strength of WM items held in human brain, by presenting temporally correlated luminance sequences during retention to interfere with the multi-item neural dynamics. Six experiments on more than 150 subjects confirm the effectiveness of this WM manipulation approach. A computational model combining continuous attractor neural network (CANN) and short-term synaptic plasticity (STP) principles further reproduces all the empirical findings. The model reveals that the "dynamic perturbation" modifies the synaptic efficacies of WM items through STP principles, eventually leading to changes in their relative memory strengths. Our results support the causal role of temporal dynamics of neural network in mediating multi-item WM, and offer a promising, purely bottom-up approach to manipulate WM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, China; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, China
| | - Qiaoli Huang
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, China; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, China
| | - Qiming Han
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, China; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yuanyuan Mi
- Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; AI Research Center, Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen 518005, China.
| | - Huan Luo
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, China; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, China.
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28
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Pavlov YG, Kotchoubey B. Oscillatory brain activity and maintenance of verbal and visual working memory: A systematic review. Psychophysiology 2020; 59:e13735. [PMID: 33278030 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Brain oscillations likely play a significant role in the storage of information in working memory (WM). Despite the wide popularity of the topic, current attempts to summarize the research in the field are narrative reviews. We address this gap by providing a descriptive systematic review, in which we investigated oscillatory correlates of maintenance of verbal and visual information in WM. The systematic approach enabled us to challenge some common views popularized by previous research. The identified literature (100 EEG/MEG studies) highlighted the importance of theta oscillations in verbal WM: frontal midline theta enhanced with load in most verbal studies, while more equivocal results have been obtained in visual studies. Increasing WM load affected alpha activity in most studies, but the direction of the effect was inconsistent: the ratio of studies that found alpha increase versus decrease with increasing load was 80/20% in the verbal WM domain and close to 60/40% in the visual domain. Alpha asymmetry (left < right) was a common finding in both verbal and visual WM studies. Beta and gamma activity studies yielded the least convincing data: a diversity in the spatial and frequency distribution of beta activity prevented us from making a coherent conclusion; gamma rhythm was virtually neglected in verbal WM studies with no systematic support for sustained gamma changes during the delay in EEG studies in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri G Pavlov
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Boris Kotchoubey
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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29
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Stokes MG, Muhle-Karbe PS, Myers NE. Theoretical distinction between functional states in working memory and their corresponding neural states. VISUAL COGNITION 2020; 28:420-432. [PMID: 33223922 PMCID: PMC7655036 DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2020.1825141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Working memory (WM) is important for guiding behaviour, but not always for the next possible action. Here we define a WM item that is currently relevant for guiding behaviour as the functionally "active" item; whereas items maintained in WM, but not immediately relevant to behaviour, are defined as functionally "latent". Traditional neurophysiological theories of WM proposed that content is maintained via persistent neural activity (e.g., stable attractors); however, more recent theories have highlighted the potential role for "activity-silent" mechanisms (e.g., short-term synaptic plasticity). Given these somewhat parallel dichotomies, functionally active and latent cognitive states of WM have been associated with storage based on persistent-activity and activity-silent neural mechanisms, respectively. However, in this article we caution against a one-to-one correspondence between functional and activity states. We argue that the principal theoretical requirement for active and latent WM is that the corresponding neural states play qualitatively different functional roles. We consider a number of candidate solutions, and conclude that the neurophysiological mechanisms for functionally active and latent WM items are theoretically independent of the distinction between persistent activity-based and activity-silent forms of WM storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G. Stokes
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul S. Muhle-Karbe
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicholas E. Myers
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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30
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Eriksson J, Fontan A, Pedale T. Make the Unconscious Explicit to Boost the Science of Consciousness. Front Psychol 2020; 11:260. [PMID: 32140132 PMCID: PMC7042194 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Eriksson
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Physiology Section, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Aurelie Fontan
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Physiology Section, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Tiziana Pedale
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Physiology Section, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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31
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Mashour GA, Roelfsema P, Changeux JP, Dehaene S. Conscious Processing and the Global Neuronal Workspace Hypothesis. Neuron 2020; 105:776-798. [PMID: 32135090 PMCID: PMC8770991 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 382] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We review the central tenets and neuroanatomical basis of the global neuronal workspace (GNW) hypothesis, which attempts to account for the main scientific observations regarding the elementary mechanisms of conscious processing in the human brain. The GNW hypothesis proposes that, in the conscious state, a non-linear network ignition associated with recurrent processing amplifies and sustains a neural representation, allowing the corresponding information to be globally accessed by local processors. We examine this hypothesis in light of recent data that contrast brain activity evoked by either conscious or non-conscious contents, as well as during conscious or non-conscious states, particularly general anesthesia. We also discuss the relationship between the intertwined concepts of conscious processing, attention, and working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A Mashour
- Center for Consciousness Science, Neuroscience Graduate Program, and Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Pieter Roelfsema
- Department of Vision & Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Pierre Changeux
- CNRS UMR 3571, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris, France; Collège de France, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France; Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Stanislas Dehaene
- Collège de France, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France; Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, CEA, INSERM, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, NeuroSpin Center, 91191 Gif/Yvette, France.
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32
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Masse NY, Rosen MC, Freedman DJ. Reevaluating the Role of Persistent Neural Activity in Short-Term Memory. Trends Cogn Sci 2020; 24:242-258. [PMID: 32007384 PMCID: PMC7288241 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A traditional view of short-term working memory (STM) is that task-relevant information is maintained 'online' in persistent spiking activity. However, recent experimental and modeling studies have begun to question this long-held belief. In this review, we discuss new evidence demonstrating that information can be 'silently' maintained via short-term synaptic plasticity (STSP) without the need for persistent activity. We discuss how the neural mechanisms underlying STM are inextricably linked with the cognitive demands of the task, such that the passive maintenance and the active manipulation of information are subserved differently in the brain. Together, these recent findings point towards a more nuanced view of STM in which multiple substrates work in concert to support our ability to temporarily maintain and manipulate information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Y Masse
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Matthew C Rosen
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David J Freedman
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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33
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Masse NY, Yang GR, Song HF, Wang XJ, Freedman DJ. Circuit mechanisms for the maintenance and manipulation of information in working memory. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:1159-1167. [PMID: 31182866 PMCID: PMC7321806 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0414-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recently it has been proposed that information in working memory (WM) may not always be stored in persistent neuronal activity but can be maintained in 'activity-silent' hidden states, such as synaptic efficacies endowed with short-term synaptic plasticity. To test this idea computationally, we investigated recurrent neural network models trained to perform several WM-dependent tasks, in which WM representation emerges from learning and is not a priori assumed to depend on self-sustained persistent activity. We found that short-term synaptic plasticity can support the short-term maintenance of information, provided that the memory delay period is sufficiently short. However, in tasks that require actively manipulating information, persistent activity naturally emerges from learning, and the amount of persistent activity scales with the degree of manipulation required. These results shed insight into the current debate on WM encoding and suggest that persistent activity can vary markedly between short-term memory tasks with different cognitive demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Y Masse
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Guangyu R Yang
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - H Francis Song
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Google DeepMind, London, UK
| | - Xiao-Jing Wang
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David J Freedman
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- The Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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