Dataset
The thalamus encodes and updates context representations during hierarchical cognitive control
NIMH Data Repositories
2025
DOI: 10.15154/6e4x-x279
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility relies on hierarchically structured task representations that organize task contexts, relevant environmental features, and subordinate decisions. Despite ongoing interest in the human thalamus, its role in cognitive control has been understudied. This study explored thalamic representation and thalamocortical interactions that contribute to hierarchical cognitive control in humans. We found that several thalamic nuclei, including the anterior, mediodorsal, ventrolateral, and pulvinar nuclei, exhibited stronger evoked responses when subjects switch between task contexts. Decoding analysis revealed that thalamic activity encodes task contexts within the hierarchical task representations. To determine how thalamocortical interactions contribute to task representations, we developed a thalamocortical functional interaction model to predict task-related cortical representation. This data-driven model outperformed comparison models, particularly in predicting activity patterns in cortical regions that encode context representations. Collectively, our findings highlight the significant contribution of thalamic activity and thalamocortical interactions for contextually guided hierarchical cognitive control.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The thalamus encodes and updates context representations during hierarchical cognitive control
- Creators
- X Chen - University of IowaS C Leach - University of IowaJ Hollis - University of IowaD CellierK Hwang
- Resource Type
- Dataset
- DOI
- 10.15154/6e4x-x279
- Publisher
- NIMH Data Repositories
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2025
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984805005902771
Metrics
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