[Koglist] [CEU Cogsci Talks] Tobias Donner (Dept. of Neurophysiology & Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf): Flexible Behavior through Adaptive Brain Network Dynamics. June 12, 2024, 4 pm, D001

The CEU Department of Cognitive Science and the Center for Cognitive Computation cordially invites you to the following talk by: Tobias H. Donner, Dept. of Neurophysiology & Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Time: 4 pm (to 5:30 pm) CET Venue: D001 (QS Vienna) Chair: Jozsef Fiser Flexible Behavior through Adaptive Brain Network Dynamics Cognitive behavior rapidly adapts to changing environmental contexts. This flexibility distinguishes cognitive behavior from reflexes. I propose that this flexibility results from the rapid reconfiguration of distributed cortical networks that implement the transformations required by a given task and context. This reconfiguration is enabled by rapid plasticity mechanisms that are controlled by neuromodulators released from the brainstem. To support these claims, I will present human MEG and fMRI experiments, in which we systematically manipulate context variables, such as task rules or environmental volatility. We quantify the resulting changes in content-specific neural interactions (e.g., selective for sensory evidence or behavioral choice), across a large set of cortical regions. We relate these cortical interactions to the dynamics of (proxies of) brainstem modulatory activity. This approach reveals that the structure of cortical interactions changes in a context-dependent manner. These changes are predicted by brainstem modulatory activity, which, in turn, tracks hidden changes in the environment. Preliminary results indicate that the cognitive recruitment of modulatory brainstem systems is impaired in individuals with a high risk of developing psychosis. Our results open a new window on the dynamic brainstem sculpting of large-scale cortical networks for flexible cognitive behavior. I speculate that this sculpting goes awry in many mental disorders. *Anyone not affiliated with CEU wishing to attend in-person in Vienna must reply here<https://forms.office.com/e/0QfsXE7WHf> to get access to the lecture hall. Let Jozsef know, please, if you would like to schedule a meeting with the speaker. organized by The Department of CogNitive SCience and the CENTER FOR COGNITIVE COMPUTATION Best, Reka ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GyörgyNÉ Finta (Réka) Department Coordinator Department of cognitive SCience --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [cid:image001.jpg@01DA64AF.05050380] CEU GmbH - CEU Central European University private university Quellenstrasse 51, A-1100 Wien, Room B502 Office: +43 125230 5138 cognitivescience.ceu.edu<https://cognitivescience.ceu.edu/>| www.ceu.edu<http://www.ceu.edu/> See CEU story: www.youtube.com/ceuhungary<http://www.youtube.com/ceuhungary> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CEU is committed to energy and environmental sustainability www.ceu.hu/sustainability<http://www.ceu.hu/sustainability> [https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wJmntYV9xI46HE4vvhea1QVsjj…] Please, consider your environmental responsibility. Before printing this e-mail message, ask yourself whether you really need a hard copy. ______________________________________________ Subscribe by sending an empty mail to talks-subscribe(a)cogsci.ceu.edu Unsubscribe by sending an empty mail to talks-unsubscribe(a)cogsci.ceu.edu