Examining the Neural Correlates of Learning From Errors: The Respective Roles of the pMFC and Insula Cortex

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Examining the Neural Correlates of Learning From Errors: The Respective Roles of the pMFC and Insula Cortex Kathleen Charles-Walsh1*, Catherine Orr1 and Robert Hester1 1 University of Melbourne, Australia Learning from an error underlies adaptive cognition. There is good reason to believe that activity in the posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC) and insula cortex subserve essential error-related cognitive and emotional processes. A recent study suggested that these regions make different contributions to the processes involved in learning from an error. The current study aimed to dissociate pMFC and insula activity on a similar task, and examine pMFC activity in relation to motivating behavioural change. 17 participants completed an associative learning task while undergoing magnetic resonance scanning. As predicted, mean rates of error correction were related to the severity of punishment administered following an error. Contrary to predictions, pMFC activity did not predict learning outcomes; insula activity selectively distinguished between punishment magnitudes in a recall but not guessing condition, and patterns of pMFC activity did not appear to index a motivation to change behaviour. Novel activity in the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) did predict learning outcomes. The failure to replicate previous findings may highlight a difference in the neural correlates of error learning within a guessing versus recall paradigm. Our unexpected finding concerning ITG activity requires further investigation, particularly as there is currently no cohesive theory concerning the contribution of this region to general cognition. Acknowledgements NHMRC Grant 1008044 ARC Grant DP1092852 References Hester, R., Murphy, K., Brown, F.L., and Skilleter, A.J. (2010). Punishing an error improves learning: The influence of punishment magnitude on error-related neural activity and subsequent learning. Journal of Neuroscience, 30 (46): 15600-15607 Keywords: functional MRI (fMRI), learning from errors, punishment magnitude, insular cortex, Incentive motivation Conference: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Executive Processes Citation: Charles-Walsh K, Orr C and Hester R (2012). Examining the Neural Correlates of Learning From Errors: The Respective Roles of the pMFC and Insula Cortex. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00131 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 06 Nov 2012; Published Online: 17 Nov 2012. * Correspondence: Ms. Kathleen Charles-Walsh, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia, k.charles-walsh@student.unimelb.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Kathleen Charles-Walsh Catherine Orr Robert Hester Google Kathleen Charles-Walsh Catherine Orr Robert Hester Google Scholar Kathleen Charles-Walsh Catherine Orr Robert Hester PubMed Kathleen Charles-Walsh Catherine Orr Robert Hester Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.