Journal article
The thalamus encodes and updates context representations during hierarchical cognitive control
PLoS biology, Vol.22(12), e3002937
12/02/2024
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002937
PMCID: PMC11637348
PMID: 39621781
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
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.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
- Xitong Chen - University of IowaStephanie C Leach - University of IowaJuniper Hollis - University of IowaDillan Cellier - University of IowaKai Hwang - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PLoS biology, Vol.22(12), e3002937
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002937
- PMID
- 39621781
- PMCID
- PMC11637348
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS Biol
- ISSN
- 1545-7885
- eISSN
- 1545-7885
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Grant note
- National Institute of Mental Health: 1S10OD025025-01
This work was conducted on an MRI instrument funded by 1S10OD025025-01.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/02/2024
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984755315202771
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