Neuronal Mechanisms of Learning and Utilizing Abstract Representations

Обзор

The purpose of this study is to examine how memories of past experiences are used to guide behavior in novel situations through the cognitive process of abstraction. This project examines how abstract representations are learned, whether and how they support generalization to novel situations, and whether and how they support analogical reasoning.

Подробное описание

Despite the importance of abstraction for human cognition, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and their disruption by disease or injury. The goal of this research is to develop a circuit-level understanding of abstraction to enable the development of new treatments for the devastating effects of cognitive disorders in which abstraction fails. As part of this study, investigators will conduct experiments that utilize the rare opportunity to record in-vivo from human single neurons simultaneously in multiple brain areas in patients undergoing treatment for drug resistant epilepsy.

Researchers will investigate three overarching hypotheses on the neural substrate of abstraction. Aim 1: to determine the dynamics of learning abstract representations. Aim 2: to decipher how abstract representations facilitate generalization. Aim 3: to decipher how abstract representations facilitate analogical reasoning.

The expected outcomes of this work are a characterization of how abstract neural representations are formed, how they enable generalization to novel stimuli and tasks, and how they enable analogical reasoning.

Participants in this study are patients undergoing invasive monitoring for suspected focal epilepsy with depth electrodes. Subjects will conduct a variety of cognitive tests on a computer placed in front of them during their hospital stay. Participating hospitals in this study are Cedars-Sinai, UC Davis, and Barrow Neurological Institute.

Вмешательства

• Поведенческое Cedrus RB-844 response pad; Adtech Behnke-Fried micro-electrodes; Neurolynx electrophysiology system; Blackrock Cerestim stimulator
  Devices listed are components of a single intervention that includes: Record patient responses (Cedrus RB-844), record neuronal activity (Neurolynx) from electrodes (Adtech Behnke-Fried), apply intermittent electrical stimulation (Blackrock Cerestim)

Первичные конечные точки

• Neuronal population activity [Срок оценки: 3 years]
• Facilitation of generalization [Срок оценки: 3 years]
• Effect of electrical stimulation [Срок оценки: 3 years]

Критерии участия

Критерии включения

• Intractable epilepsy, undergoing invasive monitoring
• Age ≥18
• Full Scale Intelligence Quotient > 70
• Ability to comprehend and perform simple behavioral tasks by pressing buttons on laptop computer in response to questions.

Критерии исключения

• Determination by clinicians and investigators that a patient is unable to complete the behavioral tasks required for the protocol due to either cognitive limits, psychological limits, or pain.

Критерии приведены из реестра в оригинале (на английском). Окончательную оценку соответствия проводит исследовательский центр.

Здоровые добровольцы: Нет

Дизайн исследования

Распределение

Не применимо

Модель

Одна группа

Маскирование

Открытое

Основная цель

Фундаментальное исследование

Центры проведения

США · 1 центр

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles

Идентификаторы

NCT: NCT07454785 · Study00000572 Part 1 · R61DC022835

Первоисточники (государственные реестры)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (NIH, США)

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