Recursion in action: An fMRI study on the generation of new hierarchical levels in motor sequences.

ABSTRACT: Generation of hierarchical structures, such as the embedding of subordinate elements into larger structures, is a core feature of human cognition. Processing of hierarchies is thought to rely on lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the neural underpinnings supporting active generation of new hierarchical levels remain poorly understood. Here, we created a new motor paradigm to isolate this active generative process by means of fMRI. Participants planned and executed identical movement sequences by using different rules: a Recursive hierarchical embedding rule, generating new hierarchical levels; an Iterative rule linearly adding items to existing hierarchical levels, without generating new levels; and a Repetition condition tapping into short term memory, without a transformation rule

SUBMITTER: Martins MJD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6865530 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature