Fudan Institute on Ageing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200433.
Ministry of education (MOE) Laboratory for National Development and Intelligent Governance, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 200433.
J Neurosci. 2023 Oct 4;43(40):6760-6778. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2172-22.2023. Epub 2023 Aug 22.
Unconscious acquisition of sequence structure from experienced events can lead to explicit awareness of the pattern through extended practice. Although the implicit-to-explicit transition has been extensively studied in humans using the serial reaction time (SRT) task, the subtle neural activity supporting this transition remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether frequency-specific neural signal transfer contributes to this transition. A total of 208 participants (107 females) learned a sequence pattern through a multisession SRT task, allowing us to observe the transitions. Session-by-session measures of participants' awareness for sequence knowledge were conducted during the SRT task to identify the session when the transition occurred. By analyzing time course RT data using switchpoint modeling, we identified an increase in learning benefit specifically at the transition session. Electroencephalogram (EEG)/magnetoencephalogram (MEG) recordings revealed increased theta power in parietal (precuneus) regions one session before the transition (pretransition) and a prefrontal (superior frontal gyrus; SFG) one at the transition session. Phase transfer entropy (PTE) analysis confirmed that directional theta transfer from precuneus → SFG occurred at the pretransition session and its strength positively predicted learning improvement at the subsequent transition session. Furthermore, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) modulated precuneus theta power and altered transfer strength from precuneus to SFG, resulting in changes in both transition rate and learning benefit at that specific point of transition. Our brain-stimulation evidence supports a role for parietal → prefrontal theta signal transfer in igniting conscious awareness of implicitly acquired knowledge. There exists a pervasive phenomenon wherein individuals unconsciously acquire sequence patterns from their environment, gradually becoming aware of the underlying regularities through repeated practice. While previous studies have established the robustness of this implicit-to-explicit transition in humans, the refined neural mechanisms facilitating conscious access to implicit knowledge remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that prefrontal activity, known to be crucial for conscious awareness, is triggered by neural signal transfer originating from the posterior brain region, specifically the precuneus. By employing brain stimulation techniques, we establish a causal link between neural signal transfer and the occurrence of awareness. Our findings unveil a mechanism by which implicit knowledge becomes consciously accessible in human cognition.
无意识地从经验事件中获取序列结构可以通过扩展练习将模式明确地意识到。虽然在人类中使用序列反应时间 (SRT) 任务广泛研究了从隐含到显式的转变,但支持这种转变的微妙神经活动仍然不清楚。在这里,我们研究了频率特异性神经信号传递是否有助于这种转变。总共 208 名参与者(107 名女性)通过多会话 SRT 任务学习序列模式,使我们能够观察到转变。在 SRT 任务期间,对参与者对序列知识的意识进行了逐会话测量,以确定转变发生的会话。通过使用切换点建模分析时间历程 RT 数据,我们确定在转变会话时专门增加了学习收益。脑电图 (EEG)/脑磁图 (MEG) 记录显示,在转变前一个会话(前转变)中,顶叶(楔前叶)区域的θ功率增加,而在转变会话中,额前(额上回;SFG)区域的θ功率增加。相位传递熵 (PTE) 分析证实,从楔前叶到 SFG 的定向θ传递在前转变会话中发生,并且其强度正向预测随后的转变会话中的学习改进。此外,重复经颅磁刺激 (TMS) 调节楔前叶θ功率并改变从楔前叶到 SFG 的传递强度,从而在特定的转变点改变转变率和学习收益。我们的大脑刺激证据支持顶叶到额前θ信号传递在引发对隐含知识的有意识意识中的作用。存在一种普遍现象,即个体从环境中无意识地获取序列模式,通过重复练习逐渐意识到潜在的规律性。虽然先前的研究已经确立了人类中这种从隐含到显式的转变的稳健性,但促进对隐含知识的有意识访问的精细神经机制仍知之甚少。在这里,我们证明,已知对意识至关重要的额前活动是由源自大脑后部区域的神经信号传递触发的,特别是楔前叶。通过采用脑刺激技术,我们建立了神经信号传递和意识发生之间的因果联系。我们的研究结果揭示了一种机制,通过该机制,人类认知中的隐含知识变得可以有意识地访问。
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