Repeating patterns: Predictive processing suggests an aesthetic learning role of the basal ganglia in repetitive stereotyped behaviors

Abstract

Recurrent, unvarying, and seemingly purposeless patterns of action and cognition are part of normal development, but also feature prominently in several neuropsychiatric conditions. Repetitive stereotyped behaviors (RSBs) can be viewed as exaggerated forms of learned habits and frequently correlate with alterations in motor, limbic, and associative basal ganglia circuits. However, it is still unclear how altered basal ganglia feedback signals actually relate to the phenomenological variability of RSBs. Why do behaviorally overlapping phenomena sometimes require different treatment approaches−for example, sensory shielding strategies versus exposure therapy for autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, respectively? Certain clues may be found in recent models of basal ganglia function that extend well beyond action selection and motivational control, and have implications for sensorimotor integration, prediction, learning under uncertainty, as well as aesthetic learning. In this paper, we systematically compare three exemplary conditions with basal ganglia involvement, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and autism spectrum conditions, to gain a new understanding of RSBs. We integrate clinical observations and neuroanatomical and neurophysiological alterations with accounts employing the predictive processing framework. Based on this review, we suggest that basal ganglia feedback plays a central role in preconditioning cortical networks to anticipate self-generated, movement-related perception. In this way, basal ganglia feedback appears ideally situated to adjust the salience of sensory signals through precision weighting of (external) new sensory information, relative to the precision of (internal) predictions based on prior generated models. Accordingly, behavioral policies may preferentially rely on new data versus existing knowledge, in a spectrum spanning between novelty and stability. RSBs may then represent compensatory or reactive responses, respectively, at the opposite ends of this spectrum. This view places an important role of aesthetic learning on basal ganglia feedback, may account for observed changes in creativity and aesthetic experience in basal ganglia disorders, is empirically testable, and may inform creative art therapies in conditions characterized by stereotyped behaviors.

Three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging shows cerebral blood flow perfusion decline in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder children

“…involved in the regulation of complex behaviors; lesions in the basal ganglia region mainly result in motion abnormality (increased or decreased movements) and changes in muscle tone (increased or decreased) (40); the basal ganglia region is an important neurological area, closely related to sensory, motor, visual, and behavioral functions (13,41); in ADHD children, abnormal development of the basal ganglia region may lead to symptoms such as hyperactivity.…”

“…The findings showed that the volume and CBF values of brain regions such as caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus were lower in ADHD children than in healthy children, suggesting abnormal development of basal ganglia brain regions in ADHD children; The basal ganglia are located in the deep brain, consisting of caudate nucleus, lenticular nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra ( 39 ). The basal ganglia are regulated in concert with the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, and voluntary movement muscular tone and postural reflexes are also involved in the regulation of complex behaviors; lesions in the basal ganglia region mainly result in motion abnormality (increased or decreased movements) and changes in muscle tone (increased or decreased) ( 40 ); the basal ganglia region is an important neurological area, closely related to sensory, motor, visual, and behavioral functions ( 13 , 41 ); in ADHD children, abnormal development of the basal ganglia region may lead to symptoms such as hyperactivity.…”

Atrapado en la incertidumbre: El procesamiento predictivo y la inferencia activa en el comportamiento procrastinador del autismo

“…On the other hand, if the task is already underway, the predictions are confirmed by the incoming sensations associated with enjoyment. This can be reinforced by other factors, such as responses of the dopaminergic system, positive affective signals, or reward signals, thereby adding more weight to the relevant action policy (Spee et al 2022). Furthermore, progress in the task may bring about incremental reconfigurations of the environment (for instance the gradual change in the shape of a Lego structure the subject is building), which in turn presents new affordances and stimulates the formulation of new predictions.…”

“…While such states are not exclusive to autism, and can be beneficial to the subject in certain contexts, they may also lead to inflexible behavioural patterns of fixation or perseveration that can be detrimental to task execution (Spee et al 2022;Dupuis et al 2022). In addition to continuous reselection of a particular action policy, a consequence of this selective focus can be suppression or insufficient weighting assigned to sensory or cognitive cues pertaining to other states-such as those regarding another task in need of completion.…”

“…Here, highly specific sets of sensory signals are required to fulfill the prediction, and even a slight deviation can result in prediction error. If the persisting error signal remains sufficiently salient, repeated selection of the action policy manifesting as perseverative behaviours can occur(Spee et al 2022).…”