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The Biological Basis of Rapid Instructed Task Learning

Cole, Michael William (2009) The Biological Basis of Rapid Instructed Task Learning. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The uniquely human ability to rapidly learn novel tasks from instructions is extremely important in everyday life, and yet its evolutionary origin and basis in the brain remain mysteries. In order to address these gaps in scientific knowledge, comparative human-monkey studies were consulted to predict the human brain areas involved in rapid instructed task learning (RITL). These predictions were tested using functional MRI (fMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and a novel cognitive paradigm developed to systematically investigate the neural basis of RITL for the first time. In accordance with cross-species neuroanatomical differences, anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC), anterior temporal lobe (aTL), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) were found to be involved in RITL. DLPFC and PPC formed a network involved in loading individual task semantics into working memory, while aPFC and aTL formed a network involved in integrating semantics in preparation for task performance. Both networks supported novel task set formation, which occurred in a bottom-up manner (semantic loading, then integration), and practiced task set retrieval, which occurred in a top-down manner (integration retrieval, then semantic loading). These findings suggest that RITL relies upon semantic loading by DLPFC and PPC, but that aPFC and aTL support semantic integration both dynamically during RITL and from long-term memory after extensive practice. More broadly, the findings suggest RITL is enabled in humans via a combination of enhanced symbolic processing (language), enhanced working memory manipulation (aPFC), and enhanced integrated semantic representation (aTL). The present document begins with a broad overview of RITL and related topics, such as its relation to animal cognition, other forms of learning, and cognitive control. These topics support several novel hypotheses regarding RITL and its likely basis in the brain. The fMRI study is then presented, verifying many of the hypotheses developed in the previous section. The MEG study is reported next, clarifying many of the questions about timing and causality suggested by the fMRI results. Finally, a general discussion integrates the results from both studies, expanding conclusions with an overview of brain connectivity findings, cross-species differences, and the role of neural hierarchies in RITL and cognition generally.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Cole, Michael Williammwc4@pitt.eduMWC4
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairSchneider, Walterwws@pitt.eduWWS
Committee MemberWagner, Anthonyawagner@stanford.edu
Committee MemberFiez, Juliefiez@pitt.eduFIEZ
Committee MemberSommer, Marcmas@cnbc.cmu.edu
Committee MemberWheeler, Markwheeler.me@gmail.com
Committee MemberCho, Raymondchory@upmc.edu
Date: 30 September 2009
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 3 June 2009
Approval Date: 30 September 2009
Submission Date: 15 July 2009
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Neuroscience
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: cognitive control; evolution; language; executive control; task switching
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-07152009-145850/, etd-07152009-145850
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:51
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:45
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8386

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