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. 2013 Oct 4:3:2860.
doi: 10.1038/srep02860.

How cognitive plasticity resolves the brain's information processing dilemma

Diankun Gong  1 , Weiyi Ma, Keith M Kendrick, Qingqing Hu, Dezhong Yao
Affiliations

How cognitive plasticity resolves the brain's information processing dilemma

Diankun Gong et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

A key unresolved question in cognitive science is whether the brain uses asynchronous or synchronous patterns of information transmission. Using an auditory learning task combined with electrophysiological recordings, we reveal for the first time that cognitive plasticity during learning transforms an asynchronous into a synchronous transmission pattern to achieve rapid, error-free performance. We also present a new model showing how the brain may resolve its information processing and transmission dilemma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Experimental tasks and behavior results.
(a) Experimental protocol, (b) Mean ± Std.error accuracy, (c) pitch vs intensity sensitivity and (d) response times on the go/no-go task for experimental and control groups. ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01 test 3 vs. test 1.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Averaged evoked potentials from the experimental group showing (a) N1, P2; (b) LRP-R and (c) S-LRP latencies and amplitudes across tests.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Averaged evoked potentials from control group showing (a) N1, P2; (b) LRP-R and (c) S-LRP latencies and amplitudes across tests.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Reduced amplitude of S-LRP for no-go trials was positively correlated with improved accuracy and reduced response time, supporting its relation to task performance.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Model showing how training reduces processing times for intensity and pitch until they are equivalent and the S-LRP dissappears, indicating a switch from an asynchronous to a synchronous pattern of transmission.
S: Stimulus onset; RT: Reaction time. (This figure is adapted from Miller's figure 1 in 1992.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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