Hippocampal brain-network coordination during volitional exploratory behavior enhances learning

Joel L Voss; Brian D Gonsalves; Kara D Federmeier; Daniel Tranel; Neal J Cohen

doi:10.1038/nn.2693

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Hippocampal brain-network coordination during volitional exploratory behavior enhances learning

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Hippocampal brain-network coordination during volitional exploratory behavior enhances learning

Joel L Voss, Brian D Gonsalves, Kara D Federmeier, Daniel Tranel and Neal J Cohen

Nature neuroscience, Vol.14(1), pp.115-120

01/2011

DOI: 10.1038/nn.2693

PMCID: PMC3057495

PMID: 21102449

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3057495View

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Abstract

Exploratory behaviors during learning determine what is studied and when, helping to optimize subsequent memory performance. We manipulated how much control subjects had over the position of a moving window through which they studied objects and their locations, in order to elucidate the cognitive and neural determinants of exploratory behaviors. Our behavioral, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging data indicate volitional control benefits memory performance, and is linked to a brain network centered on the hippocampus. Increases in correlated activity between the hippocampus and other areas were associated with specific aspects of memory, suggesting that volitional control optimizes interactions among specialized neural systems via the hippocampus. Memory is therefore an active process intrinsically linked to behavior. Furthermore, brain structures typically seen as passive participants in memory encoding (e.g., the hippocampus) are actually part of an active network that controls behavior dynamically as it unfolds.

active learning

visual learning

amnesia

exploratory behavior

brain-network dynamics

hippocampus

spatial memory

recognition memory

Details

Title: Subtitle: Hippocampal brain-network coordination during volitional exploratory behavior enhances learning
Creators: Joel L Voss - Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Brian D Gonsalves - Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Kara D Federmeier - Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Daniel Tranel - Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Neal J Cohen - Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nature neuroscience, Vol.14(1), pp.115-120
DOI: 10.1038/nn.2693
PMID: 21102449
PMCID: PMC3057495
NLM abbreviation: Nat Neurosci
ISSN: 1097-6256
eISSN: 1546-1726
Language: English
Date published: 01/2011
Academic Unit: Neurology; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984002585702771

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