Seminar

No.150 Seminar　：　Neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex during the course of updating knowledge for problem solution in a changing environment.

• Tadashi Ogawa (Center for Enhancing Next-Generation Research, The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research)
• 2018-07-03 16:30:00
• The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research (Research Administration Building 1F)
• Japanese(This seminar is open for students and researchers at Kyoto Univ.)

Summary

When facing novel problems, humans and primates could seek appropriate problem solutions through trial-and-error (TE) actions and observation of their outcomes. Once an individual has obtained the knowledge to solve a problem, knowledge-based (KB) actions may be applied in a stereotypical manner to solve the problem. Problem solutions for intelligent behaviors can thus be based on the appropriate usage of TE or KB strategies. We trained laboratory monkeys to perform a target-tracking visual search task and examined the problem solution process. We recorded single-unit activity from the lateral prefrontal cortex of the monkey performing this task. The present study provided behavioral and neuronal evidence how the brain appropriately control the timing and manner of switching between TE and KB strategies during the process of updating knowledge to solve a novel problem.

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