Temporal prediction errors modulate task-switching performance

Abstract

We have previously shown that temporal prediction errors (PEs, the differences between the expected and the actual stimulus’ onset times) modulate the effective connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and the right anterior insular cortex (rAI), causing the activity of the rAI to decrease. The activity of the rAI is associated with efficient performance under uncertainty (e.g., changing a prepared behavior when a change demand is not expected), which leads to hypothesize that temporal PEs might disrupt behavior-change performance under uncertainty. This hypothesis has not been tested at a behavioral level. In this work, we evaluated this hypothesis within the context of task switching and concurrent temporal predictions. Our participants performed temporal predictions while observing one moving ball striking a stationary ball which bounced off with a variable temporal gap. Simultaneously, they performed a simple color comparison task. In some trials, a change signal made the participants change their behaviors. Performance accuracy decreased as a function of both the temporal PE and the delay. Explaining these results without appealing to ad hoc concepts such as “executive control” is a challenge for cognitive neuroscience. We provide a predictive coding explanation. We hypothesize that exteroceptive and proprioceptive minimization of PEs would converge in a fronto-basal ganglia network which would include the rAI. Both temporal gaps (or uncertainty) and temporal PEs would drive and modulate this network respectively. Whereas the temporal gaps would drive the activity of the rAI, the temporal PEs would modulate the endogenous excitatory connections of the fronto-striatal network. We conclude that in the context of perceptual uncertainty, the system is not able to minimize perceptual PE, causing the ongoing behavior to finalize and, in consequence, disrupting task switching.

Rethinking the role of music in the neurodevelopment of autism spectrum disorder

“…For example, it has been demonstrated that finger and arm movements instantaneously entrain to the period of a rhythmic stimulus (e.g., metronome beat) and maintain phase synchrony to the metronome even when subtle tempo changes are introduced (Thaut, Miller, & Schauer, 1998). The clinical importance of auditory-motor entrainment is that the continuous time reference provided by the rhythm of the music primes the motor system into a state of readiness by providing anticipatory time cues that allow movement anticipation and motor planning to occur based on expectations of the duration of the time cues, thus increasing response quality (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014;Thaut, McIntosh, & Hoemberg, 2015).…”

“…For instance, rhythm-based interventions such as Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) involve the utilization of rhythmic cues (metronome or rhythmically accentuated music with embedded metronome clicks) to facilitate gait and improve the kinematic stability of walking movements (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014). There is a strong body of research evidence that RAS improves movement in patients with movement disorders (for review, see Thaut, 2015;Thaut & Abiru, 2010;Thaut et al, 2015). Specifically, it has been demonstrated that rhythmic auditory cues have immediate effects on gait by increasing speed, stride length, and improving symmetry and stability (Arias & Cudeiro, 2010;McIntosh, Brown, Rice, & Thaut, 1997;Thaut et al, 1996;Thaut et al, 1999;.…”

The Case for Musical Instrument Training in Cerebral Palsy for Neurorehabilitation

“…This interaction between auditory and motor systems constitutes one of the possible means through which music-supported therapy (MST) can promote neurorehabilitation [64], especially in cases of motor disorders due to neurological damage [65] and in cases where both motor and sensorimotor networks are affected, as in CP. Even though the precise mechanisms through which damaged neuronal processes can be restored or improved remain unclear, numerous studies in the last years have shown that MST can positively influence the recovery, at least partially, of disturbed skills [59].…”

“…In fact, some rehabilitation programs based on music therapy use the rhythmicity or periodicity of music to influence, change, or entrain movements (for a review see [64]). In a study with hemiparetic stroke patients, rhythmic auditory stimulation was employed to train new gait patterns during the first three months after injury, by the training of walking following a rhythmic pattern, using a metronome or music tapes.…”

Broca's Area Activity in the Lexical Semantics of Visual Causal Events

“…For example, the representation of the causal structure of rearend collisions allows us to both predict when the collision occurs and update actions accordingly. (Limongi, Pérez, Modroño & González-Mora, 2016;Limongi, Silva & Góngora-Costa, 2015;Limongi, Sutherland, Zhu, Young & Habib, 2013;Young, Rogers & Beckmann, 2005;Young & Sutherland, 2009). The adaptive importance of causal conceptualization has given rise to a research agenda aiming to unveil its neural basis (Blakemore et al, 2001;Fonlupt, 2003;Green, Kraemer, Fugelsang, Gray & Dunbar, 2010).…”