Analogous computations in working memory input, output and motor gating: Electrophysiological and computational modeling evidence

Abstract

Adaptive cognitive-control is achieved through a hierarchical cortico-striatal gating system that supports selective updating, maintenance, and retrieval of useful cognitive and motor information. Here, we developed a novel task that independently manipulated selective gating operations of working-memory (input), from working-memory (output), and in response (motor) and tested the neural dynamics and computational principles that support them. Increases in gating demands, captured by gate switches, were expressed by distinct EEG correlates at each gating level that evolved dynamically in partially overlapping time windows. EEG decoding analysis further showed that neural indexes of working-memory (category) and motor (action) representations were prioritized particularly when the corresponding gate was switching. Finally, the control mechanisms involved in gate switches were quantified by the drift diffusion model, showing elevated motor decision threshold in all gating levels. Together these results support the notion that cognitive gating operations scaffold on top of mechanisms involved in motor gating.

Analogous computations in working memory input, output and motor gating: Electrophysiological and computational modeling evidence

“…Two participants were excluded from the analysis, due to technical problems with the experiment. All behavioral and EEG data has been made available on Dryad ( https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.00000002t [ 89 ]).…”

“…To correct for multiple comparisons, we performed cluster-mass correction by permutation testing [ 94 ] with custom written Matlab scripts. All analysis code has been made available on Zenodo ( https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4623800 [ 89 ]). Cluster-based test statistics were calculated by taking the sum of the t-values within a cluster of significant points with threshold for a t test significance level of P = 0.001.…”