Objective
Human cognition is uniquely flexible. We can attend to different aspects of the world and make arbitrary connections between things we see and do, enabling us to perceive, think, and act adaptively. These foundational processes are thought to depend on frontoparietal brain networks, which prioritise relevant sensory information and organise it into temporary, task-specific structures. A key proposal is that flexibility arises from the rapid and transient linking of stimulus and response representations via versatile domain-general cells in these regions. Intriguingly, in this framework, a person’s knowledge of the current task is encoded in the temporary pattern of connections between neurons, rather than in explicit activity. However, studying these essential knowledge states in working brains is difficult, because the corresponding momentary patterns of synaptic potentiation are typically invisible to neuroimaging. PINGSIGHT will develop and use new methods to reveal these hidden neural states. We will inject non-specific ‘pings’ of energy into the system, through visual, auditory, and non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation, in the moments before and after active task performance. Then, we will use multimodal neuroimaging and multivariate decoding analyses to read out how the ping activity propagates in the brain, exposing the underlying patterns of synaptic potentiation. We will use this method to study whether and how these previously hidden brain states support two foundational features of flexible cognition: our ability to (1) attend selectively and (2) respond flexibly to the world around us. As well as revealing latent neural mechanisms underpinning these key core processes, there will be important cross-field impacts: exposing the importance of hidden neural states for cognition, and showcasing how to make them visible for interrogation in humans.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence computational intelligence
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.