Learning to Learn - Medial Prefrontal Cortex as Meta-Learning System in the Brain

Projektinformationen

Learning2Learn

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101031746

DOI

10.3030/101031746

Projekt abgeschlossen

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 10 März 2021

Startdatum 1 April 2021

Enddatum 31 März 2023

Finanziert unter

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Gesamtkosten

€ 191 149,44

EU-Beitrag

€ 191 149,44

Koordiniert durch

EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Learning2Learn (Learning to Learn - Medial Prefrontal Cortex as Meta-Learning System in the Brain)

Berichtszeitraum: 2021-04-01 bis 2023-03-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

Survival and adaptation to a changing environment is driven by the ability of animals and humans to utilise prior knowledge to quickly learn new behaviours (forward generalisation). However, the mechanism by which the brain combines old information with new input remains elusive. The EU-funded Learning2Learn project aims to elucidate the role of the medial prefrontal cortex in quick adaptation to new situations by forward generalisation. The proposed mechanism is inspired by a theoretical machine-learning framework for artificial neural networks and will be investigated by combining cutting-edge experimental techniques to unveil the brain's learning mechanism. The overall objectives of the project are to understand what information is conveyed from prefrontal cortex to sensory cortices and if and how this promotes forward generalisation.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

As part of the project a behavioural paradigm to study forward generalization in mice was designed and implemented. The paradigm was combined with recordings from prefrontal cortex, that will give insight in what information is processed in prefrontal cortex during the task and how the processing changes when the mice learn the task and must forward generalise.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

The insight we will gain from the experiments performed in the described project will help us to understand how the brain utilises previous knowledge to quickly adapt to new situations.

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