Frontoparietal action-oriented codes support novel instruction implementation

A key aspect of human cognitive flexibility concerns the ability to convert complex symbolic instructions into novel behaviors. Previous research proposes that this transformation is supported by two neurocognitive states: an initial declarative maintenance of task knowledge, and an implementation s...

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Published inNeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 226; p. 117608
Main Authors González-García, Carlos, Formica, Silvia, Wisniewski, David, Brass, Marcel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2021
Elsevier Limited
Elsevier
Subjects
Adult
Behavior
Brain
Brain mapping
Brain Mapping - methods
Codes
Cognition
Cognitive ability
Cognitive Control
Experiments
Female
Frontal Lobe - physiology
Frontoparietal network
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods
Instructions
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Memory
Parietal Lobe - physiology
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Retro-cue
RSA
Young Adult
RSA
Instructions
Retro-cue
Cognitive Control
Frontoparietal network
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Summary:A key aspect of human cognitive flexibility concerns the ability to convert complex symbolic instructions into novel behaviors. Previous research proposes that this transformation is supported by two neurocognitive states: an initial declarative maintenance of task knowledge, and an implementation state necessary for optimal task execution. Furthermore, current models predict a crucial role of frontal and parietal brain regions in this process. However, whether declarative and procedural signals independently contribute to implementation remains unknown. We report the results of an fMRI experiment in which participants executed novel instructed stimulus-response associations. We then used a pattern-tracking procedure to quantify the contribution of format-unique signals during instruction implementation. This revealed independent procedural and declarative representations of novel S-Rs in frontoparietal areas, prior to execution. Critically, the degree of procedural activation predicted subsequent behavioral performance. Altogether, our results suggest an important contribution of frontoparietal regions to the neural architecture that regulates cognitive flexibility.
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ISSN:1053-8119
1095-9572
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117608