Computational mechanism underlying switching of motor actions

Abstract

Surviving in a constantly changing environment requires not only the ability to select actions, but also the flexibility to stop and switch actions when necessary. Extensive research has been devoted to understanding how the brain switches actions, yet the computations underlying switching and how it relates to selecting and stopping processes remain elusive. A central question is whether switching is an extension of the stopping process or involves different mechanisms. To address this question, we modeled action regulation tasks with a neurocomputational theory and evaluated its predictions on individuals performing reaches in a dynamic environment. Our findings suggest that, unlike stopping, switching does not necessitate a proactive pause mechanism to delay movement onset. However, switching engages a pause mechanism after movement onset, if the new target location is unknown prior to switch signal. These findings offer a new understanding of the action-switching computations, opening new avenues for future neurophysiological investigations.