Parallel temporal dynamics in hierarchical cognitive control

Abstract

Cognitive control allows us to follow abstract rules in order to choose appropriate responses given our desired outcomes. Cognitive control is often conceptualized as a hierarchical decision process, wherein decisions made at higher, more abstract levels of control asymmetrically influence lower-level decisions. These influences could evolve sequentially across multiple levels of a hierarchical decision, consistent with much prior evidence for central bottlenecks and seriality in decision-making processes. However, here, we show that multiple levels of hierarchical cognitive control are processed primarily in parallel. Human participants selected responses to stimuli using a complex, multiply contingent (third order) rule structure. A response deadline procedure allowed assessment of the accuracy and timing of decisions made at each level of the hierarchy. In contrast to a serial decision process, error rates across levels of the decision mostly declined simultaneously and at identical rates, with only a slight tendency to complete the highest level decision first. Simulations with a biologically plausible neural network model demonstrate how such parallel processing could emerge from a previously developed hierarchically nested frontostriatal architecture. Our results support a parallel processing model of cognitive control, in which uncertainty on multiple levels of a decision is reduced simultaneously.

Decoding Hierarchical Control of Sequential Behavior in Oscillatory EEG Activity

“…One important question in this regard is to what degree higherlevel representations (i.e., chunks and chunk positions) and low-level representations (i.e., elements and element positions) are activated sequentially, such that the first are needed to initiate the latter. Alternatively, higher-level and lower-level representations could be activated in parallel, potentially constraining each other (Ranti et al, 2015). Our results indicate that information about the position of a chunk within the larger sequence is activated only at chunk transition points, presumably as a cue to retrieve the next chunk identity.…”

“…Alternatively, higher-level codes may need to remain active while lower-level representations are being used-in order to ward off interference from competing chunks, or to maintain the ability to navigate within the overall control structure once within-chunk processing has completed (Ranti, Chatham, & Badre, 2015). Currently, no neural-level data are available to distinguish between these theoretical options.…”

The relationship between cognitive enrichment and cognitive control: A systematic investigation of environmental influences on development through socioeconomic status

“…Rule‐guided behavior of this type has long been the focus of study in cognitive control research, as it supports complex contingent action selection (Badre & D'Esposito, ; Badre et al., ; Chatham et al., ; Ranti, Chatham & Badre, ), learning and generalization (Badre & Frank, ; Badre, Kayser & D'Esposito, ; Botvinick, ; Collins & Frank, ; Frank & Badre, ), decision making (Badre, Doll, Long & Frank, ), fluid reasoning (Bunge, ; Speed, ), and planning (Koechlin, Corrado, Pietrini & Grafman, ). This host of skills is key to flexible thought and action and academic success.…”

Decoding hierarchical control of sequential behavior in oscillatory EEG activity

“…elements and element positions) are activated sequentially, such that the first are needed to initiate the latter. Alternatively, higher level and lower level representations could be activated in parallel, potentially constraining each other, as ( Ranti et al, 2015 ) have shown in the context of a paradigm where changes on different hierarchical levels were probed through explicit cues, rather than sequential context. Our results indicate that information about the position of a chunk within the larger sequence is activated only at chunk transition points, presumably as a cue to retrieve the next chunk identity.…”