Dynamically shifting from compositional to conjunctive brain representations supports cognitive task learning.

ABSTRACT: During cognitive task learning, neural representations must be rapidly constructed for novel task performance, then optimized for robust practiced task performance. How the geometry of neural representations changes to enable this transition from novel to practiced performance remains unknown. We hypothesized that practice involves a shift from compositional representations (task-general activity patterns that can be flexibly reused across tasks) to conjunctive representations (task-specific activity patterns specialized for the current task). Functional MRI during learning of multiple complex tasks substantiated this dynamic shift from compositional to conjunctive representations, which was associated with reduced cross-task interference (via pattern separation) and behavioral improvement

SUBMITTER: Mill RD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627632 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature