A Programmer-Interpreter Neural Network Architecture for Prefrontal Cognitive Control

There is wide consensus that the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is able to exert cognitive control on behavior by biasing processing toward task-relevant information and by modulating response selection. This idea is typically framed in terms of top-down influences within a cortical control hierarchy, where prefrontalbasal ganglia loops gate multiple input-output channels, which in turn can activate or sequence motor primitives expressed in (pre-) motor cortices. Here we advance a new hypothesis, based on the notion of programmability and an interpreter-programmer computational scheme, on how the PFC can flexibly bias the selection of sensorimotor patterns depending on internal goal and task contexts. In this approach, multiple elementary behaviors representing motor primitives are expressed by a single multi-purpose neural network, which is seen as a reusable area of "recycled"neurons (interpreter). The PFC thus acts as a "programmer" that, without modifying the network connectivity, feeds the interpreter networks with specific input parameters encoding the programs (corresponding to network structures) to be interpreted by the (pre-) motor areas. Our architecture is validated in a standard test for executive function: the 1-2-AX task. Our results show that this computational framework provides a robust, scalable and flexible scheme that can be iterated at different hierarchical layers, supporting the realization of multiple goals. We discuss the plausibility of the "programmer-interpreter" scheme to explain the functioning of prefrontal-(pre) motor cortical hierarchies.

Tipo Pubblicazione: 
Articolo
Author or Creator: 
Donnarumma, Francesco
Prevete, Roberto
Chersi, Fabian
Pezzulo, Giovanni
Publisher: 
World Scientific., Singapore, Singapore
Source: 
International journal of neural systems 25 (2015). doi:10.1142/S0129065715500173
info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Donnarumma, Francesco; Prevete, Roberto; Chersi, Fabian; Pezzulo, Giovanni/titolo:A Programmer-Interpreter Neural Network Architecture for Prefrontal Cognitive Control/doi:10.1142/S0129065715500173/rivista:International journal
Date: 
2015
Resource Identifier: 
http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/342748
https://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0129065715500173
info:doi:10.1142/S0129065715500173
Language: 
Eng
ISTC Author: 
Ritratto di Giovanni Pezzulo
Real name: