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SUMMARY:Context\, Computation\, and Continuity: Neural Mechanisms of Memor
 y and Decision-Making - Máté Lengyel\; Guillaume Hennequin
DTSTART:20250610T100000Z
DTEND:20250610T113000Z
UID:TALK233233@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:124819
DESCRIPTION:How does the brain achieve both stability and flexibility in b
 ehavior? In this journal club\, we will explore two recent studies that il
 luminate distinct yet interconnected neural mechanisms underlying long-ter
 m motor memory and flexible decision-making. The first paper ("Kim et al.\
 , Nature\, 2024":https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08193-3) demon
 strates that motor memories are encoded in a combinatorial\, context-speci
 fic manner in the motor cortex of mice. Using long-term two-photon imaging
 \, the authors show that new motor skills are acquired without overwriting
  old ones\, as new preparatory activity patterns emerge in parallel across
  contexts—offering a robust mechanism for continual learning.\nThe secon
 d paper ("Pagan et al.\, Nature\, 2024":https://www.nature.com/articles/s4
 1586-024-08433-6) investigates how individual variability shapes context-d
 ependent decision-making in rats. The authors develop a behavioral paradig
 m and theoretical framework revealing three distinct dynamical strategies 
 for evidence accumulation\, all capable of supporting flexible behavior. S
 trikingly\, different individuals express different combinations of these 
 strategies\, despite similar performance\, highlighting substantial neural
  and computational diversity.\nOptionally\, we will also discuss findings 
 from a third study ("Mishchanchuk et al.\, Science\, 2024":https://www.sci
 ence.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq5874)\, which reveals how the ventral hipp
 ocampus encodes abstract contextual states critical for hidden state infer
 ence. This study complements the others by highlighting the importance of 
 hippocampal representations in decision-making based on latent contexts.\n
 Together\, these studies provide a compelling picture of how the brain bal
 ances flexibility and stability through context-specific encoding\, divers
 e computational strategies\, and abstract contextual inference—shedding 
 light on the neural basis of learning\, memory\, and cognition.
LOCATION:CBL Seminar Room\, Engineering Department\, 4th floor Baker build
 ing
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