Journal article
Temporal Dynamics of Memory-guided Cognitive Control and Generalization of Control via Overlapping Associative Memories
The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.40(11), pp.2343-2356
03/11/2020
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1869-19.2020
PMID: 32019830
Abstract
Goal-directed behavior can benefit from proactive adjustments of cognitive control that occur in anticipation of forthcoming cognitive control demands (CCD). Predictions of forthcoming CCD are thought to depend on learning and memory in two ways: First, through direct experience, associative encoding may link previously experienced CCD to its triggering item, such that subsequent encounters with the item serve to cue retrieval of (i.e., predict) the associated CCD.
Goal-directed behavior can benefit from proactive adjustments of cognitive control that occur in anticipation of forthcoming cognitive control demands (CCD). Predictions of forthcoming CCD are thought to depend on learning and memory in two ways: First, through direct experience, associative encoding may link previously experienced CCD to its triggering item, such that subsequent encounters with the item serve to cue retrieval of (i.e., predict) the associated CCD. Second, in the absence of direct experience, pattern completion and mnemonic integration mechanisms may allow CCD to be generalized from its associated item to other items related in memory. While extant behavioral evidence documents both types of CCD prediction, the neurocognitive mechanisms giving rise to these predictions remain largely unexplored. Here, we tested two hypotheses: (1) memory-guided predictions about CCD precede control adjustments due to the actual CCD required; and (2) generalization of CCD can be accomplished through integration mechanisms that link partially overlapping CCD-item and item-item associations in memory. Supporting these hypotheses, the temporal dynamics of theta and alpha power in human electroencephalography data (
n
= 43, 26 females) revealed that an associative CCD effect emerges earlier than interaction effects involving actual CCD. Furthermore, generalization of CCD from one item (X) to another item (Y) was predicted by a decrease in alpha power following the presentation of the X-Y pair. These findings advance understanding of the mechanisms underlying memory-guided adjustments of cognitive control.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
Cognitive control adaptively regulates information processing to align with task goals. Experience-based expectations enable adjustments of control, leading to improved performance when expectations match the actual control demand required. Using EEG, we demonstrate that memory for past cognitive control demand proactively guides the allocation of cognitive control, preceding adjustments of control triggered by the demands of the present environment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that learned cognitive control demands can be generalized through mnemonic integration processes, enabling the spread of expectations about cognitive control demands to items associated in memory. We reveal that this generalization is linked to decreased alpha oscillation in medial frontal channels. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into how memory-control interactions facilitate goal-directed behavior.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Temporal Dynamics of Memory-guided Cognitive Control and Generalization of Control via Overlapping Associative Memories
- Creators
- Jiefeng Jiang - Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305Inês Bramão - Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, SE-221 00, andAnna Khazenzon - Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305Shao-Fang Wang - Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305Mikael Johansson - Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, SE-221 00, andAnthony D Wagner - Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.40(11), pp.2343-2356
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- DOI
- 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1869-19.2020
- PMID
- 32019830
- ISSN
- 0270-6474
- eISSN
- 1529-2401
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/11/2020
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984065836302771
Metrics
32 Record Views