Cognitive Science
Princeton study reveals brain’s reusable ‘cognitive Legos’ for flexible learning
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Neuroscientists at Princeton University report that the brain achieves flexible learning by reusing modular cognitive components across tasks. In experiments with rhesus macaques, researchers found that the prefrontal cortex assembles these reusable “cognitive Legos” to adapt behaviors quickly. The findings, published November 26 in Nature, underscore differences from current AI systems and could eventually inform treatments for disorders that impair flexible thinking.
Chimpanzees can update their decisions based on stronger evidence, much like humans, according to a study published in Science. Researchers at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda found that the animals switched choices when presented with clearer clues about food locations. This flexible reasoning challenges assumptions about animal cognition.
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Researchers at MIT’s Picower Institute report that rotating waves of neural activity help the brain recover focus after distraction. In animal studies, the extent of these rotations tracked performance: full rotations aligned with correct responses, while incomplete cycles were linked to errors. The timing between a distraction and response also mattered, suggesting a timing‑dependent recovery cycle.