Collective minds: social network topology shapes collective cognition

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 377(1843)

Published: Dec. 13, 2021

Human cognition is not solitary, it shaped by collective learning and memory. Unlike swarms or herds, human social networks have diverse topologies, serving modes of behaviour. Here, we review research that combines network structure with psychological neural experiments modelling to understand how the topology shapes cognition. First, graph-theoretical approaches behavioural on memory, belief propagation problem solving. These results show different topologies communication synchronize integrate knowledge differently, goals. Second, discuss neuroimaging studies showing brains encode one's larger similar patterns our friends community ties (e.g. when watching movies). Third, cognitive similarities between non-social e.g. in spatial associative learning, as well common brain regions involved processing topologies. Finally, recent machine cooperation multi-agent artificial networks. Combining science cognitive, computational empowers investigating structures shape cognition, which can turn help design goal-directed This article part a discussion meeting issue ‘The emergence cumulative culture animals, humans machines’.

Language: Английский

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Evolution of cortical geometry and its link to function, behaviour and ecology

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: April 20, 2023

Abstract Studies in comparative neuroanatomy and of the fossil record demonstrate influence socio-ecological niches on morphology cerebral cortex, but have led to oftentimes conflicting theories about its evolution. Here, we study relationship between shape cortex topography function. We establish a joint geometric representation cortices ninety species extant Euarchontoglires, including commonly used experimental model organisms. show that variability surface geometry relates species’ ecology behaviour, independent overall brain size. Notably, ancestral reconstruction cortical change during evolution enables us trace evolutionary history localised expansions, modal segregation function, their association behaviour cognition. find individual regions follow different sequences area increase adaptations dynamic niches. Anatomical correlates this sequence events are still observable species, relate current ecology. decompose deep human into spatially temporally conscribed components with highly interpretable functional associations, highlighting importance considering when studying anatomy

Language: Английский

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Thalamocortical architectures for flexible cognition and efficient learning

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 28(8), P. 739 - 756

Published: June 17, 2024

The brain exhibits a remarkable ability to learn and execute context-appropriate behaviors. How it achieves such flexibility, without sacrificing learning efficiency, is an important open question. Neuroscience, psychology, engineering suggest that reusing repurposing computations are part of the answer. Here, we review evidence thalamocortical architectures may have evolved facilitate these objectives flexibility efficiency by coordinating distributed computations. Recent work suggests prefrontal cortical networks compute with flexible codes, mediodorsal thalamus provides regularization promote efficient reuse. Thalamocortical interactions resemble hierarchical Bayesian computations, their network implementation can be related existing gating, synchronization, hub theories thalamic function. By reviewing recent findings providing novel synthesis, highlight key research horizons integrating computation, cognition, systems neuroscience.

Language: Английский

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Simplifying social learning

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 28(5), P. 428 - 440

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Language: Английский

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Mapping the social landscape: tracking patterns of interpersonal relationships

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(3), P. 204 - 221

Published: Feb. 3, 2022

Language: Английский

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Parallel cognitive maps for multiple knowledge structures in the hippocampal formation

Cerebral Cortex, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(2)

Published: Jan. 9, 2024

Abstract The hippocampal-entorhinal system uses cognitive maps to represent spatial knowledge and other types of relational information. However, objects can often be characterized by different relations simultaneously. How does the hippocampal formation handle embedding stimuli in multiple structures that differ vastly their mode timescale acquisition? Does integrate stimulus dimensions into one conjunctive map or is each dimension represented a parallel map? Here, we reanalyzed human functional magnetic resonance imaging data from Garvert et al. (2017) had previously revealed coding for newly learnt transition structure. Using adaptation analysis, found degree representational similarity bilateral hippocampus also decreased as function semantic distance between presented objects. Importantly, while both map-like localized formation, was located more posterior regions than structure thus anatomically distinct. This finding supports idea forms reflect diverse structures.

Language: Английский

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Abstract cognitive maps of social network structure aid adaptive inference

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(47)

Published: Nov. 14, 2023

Social navigation-such as anticipating where gossip may spread, or identifying which acquaintances can help land a job-relies on knowing how people are connected within their larger social communities. Problematically, for most networks, the space of possible relationships is too vast to observe and memorize. Indeed, people's knowledge these relations well known be biased error-prone. Here, we reveal that representations reflect fundamental computation abstracts over individual enable principled inferences about unseen relationships. We propose theory network representation explains learn inferential cognitive maps from direct observation, what kinds structures emerge consequence, why it beneficial encode systematic biases into maps. Leveraging simulations, laboratory experiments, "field data" real-world network, find abstract observations (e.g., friends) multistep friends-of-friends). This abstraction mechanism enables discover represent complex structure, affording adaptive across variety contexts, including friendship, trust, advice-giving. Moreover, this unifies otherwise puzzling empirical behavior. Our proposal generalizes computational problem inference, presenting powerful framework understanding workings predictive mind operating world.

Language: Английский

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Proposal for a revised Barthel index classification based on mortality risk assessment in functional dependence for basic activities of daily living

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Jan. 14, 2025

Introduction Functional dependence on the performance of basic activities daily living (ADLs) is associated with increased mortality. In this study, Barthel index and its discriminate long-term mortality risk, whether changes in are necessary to adapt it detect risk examined. Methods Longitudinal carried out at Orcasitas Health Center, Madrid (Spain), functional dependent population (Barthel ≤ 60). It included 127 people, a mean age 86 years (78.7% women 21.3% men). capacity was assessed using index, each item contains were analyzed as test relation survival three years, tools that evaluate precision, discrimination, calibration. The date death obtained from health system. Results Greater dependency perform chair-to-bed transfers an (HR 2.957; CI 1.678–5.211). Also, individuals severe 0.492; 0.290–0.865) moderate 0.574; 0.355–0.927) ADL had reduced when more independent transfers. Among people dependence, percentage 48%. Using dependence-independence for transfer screening mortality, showed high sensitivity (0.91) specificity (0.83), positive likelihood ratio 5.45, negative 0.11. area under ROC curve 0.814 (CI 0.658–0.970; p = 0.001), χ 2 0.235; 0.889, according Hosmer–Lemeshow test. concordance C 0.814. According Nagelkerke’s R , model explained 53.1% variance survival. As test, “chair-to-bed transfer” superior index. Conclusion factor any level dependency. Therefore, new classification proposed, which “being or requiring great assistance transfers” considered even total score via Index ≥40. We propose use parallel study suggests may have limitations adequately discriminating risk.

Language: Английский

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Conversational linguistic features inform social-relational inference

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 6, 2025

Whether it is the first day of school or a new job, individuals often find themselves in situations where they must learn structure existing social relationships. However, mechanisms through which evaluate strength and nature these relationships - social-relational inference remain unclear. We posit that linguistic features conversations may help be associated with inference. Leveraging naturalistic behavioral experiment (57 adults; 34,735 observations), participants watched mid-season episode reality television show evaluated observed dyadic between contestants. employed novel person- stimulus-focused approaches to: (1) investigate similarity participants, (2) examine association distinct inference, (3) explore relationship early season conversation later perceived formation. found high pairwise participant response across two relational subtypes (friendship, rivalry), associations judgments features, including semantic similarity, sentiment, clout, no evidence an friendship These findings suggest conversational content both potential mechanism promising avenue for future research.

Language: Английский

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Social knowledge about others is anchored to self-knowledge in the hippocampal formation

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 23(4), P. e3003050 - e3003050

Published: April 2, 2025

Mounting evidence suggests the human hippocampal formation (HF) maps how different people’s attributes relate to each other. Yet, it’s unclear if map-like knowledge representations of other people are shaped by self-knowledge. Here, we test a prominent heuristic involving an implicit reliance on self-knowledge when rating others, egocentric anchoring-and-adjustment, is present in HF relational information about social entities retrieved. Participants first provided likelihood ratings partaking everyday activities for themselves, fictitious individuals, and familiar groups. During neuroimaging task that doesn’t require using self-knowledge, participants then learned stranger’s preference activity relative one individuals inferred related groups’ preferences. Isolating neural representation anchoring retrieving knowledge, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) represented group entities’ preferences self. Furthermore, selectively identity over entities, confirming was primarily engaged comparisons more ample reference frame. Taken together, these results imply implicitly influences learns others.

Language: Английский

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