Newswise — Cognitive adaptability is vital for the existence of every species on Earth. It relies specifically on operations of the orbitofrontal cortex, situated in the frontal region of the brain. "The absence of cognitive adaptability in daily experiences plays a significant role in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders," explain Professor Burkhard Pleger and lead author Dr. Bin Wang from the Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, elucidating their drive for the research. "Comprehending the fundamental network mechanisms is thus crucial for the advancement of novel curative approaches."
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the Bochum team and their collaborative associate Dr. Abhishek Banerjee from the Biosciences Institute at Newcastle University analyzed the cognitive functions of 40 individuals as they acquired a sensorimotor skill.
While positioned inside the MRI scanner, the participants were tasked with acquiring the ability to decipher the significance of various tactile cues, akin to those employed in Braille, on the tip of their right index finger. One touch signal indicated that the volunteers should press a button using their free hand, while another signal instructed them to refrain from pressing and remain motionless. The association between the two distinct touch signals and the corresponding button press or lack thereof had to be learned through repeated trials. The twist in the experiment arose when, after a certain period, the meaning of the touch signals was altered. What previously indicated "press the button" now signified "stay still" – a strategically designed experimental arrangement to probe the cognitive adaptability of the participants. The fMRI scans captured images of the correlated brain activity during the task.
Similarities between humans and mice
"Pleger highlights, "Comparable cognitive demands enabled us to observe the brains of both mice and humans in this learning task, which had been previously conducted in mice as well."
Wang emphasizes the striking discovery of the parallelism between the findings obtained in humans by the Bochum team and the previously published data from mice. This similarity underscores that cognitive functions crucial for survival, including the ability to swiftly adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, adhere to analogous principles across diverse species.
Furthermore, the researchers from Bochum successfully identified the significant participation of sensory regions in the processing of decisions made during tactile learning. Wang highlights, "In addition to the frontal brain, sensory areas play a vital role in decision-making processes within the brain." Pleger adds, "Similar mechanisms have been previously observed in mice as well." These findings indicate that the interaction between the frontal brain and sensory regions in decision-making was established early in the evolutionary progression of the brain.
The publication received funding from the Collaborative Research Centre 874 (SFB 874) and the project PL602/6-1 of the German Research Foundation. The SFB 874, titled "Integration and Representation of Sensory Processes," operated from 2010 to 2022 at Ruhr University Bochum.
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