Ravi Mill
@ravimill.bsky.social
Assistant Research Professor in Neuroscience,
Director of the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (PhD),
Rutgers University-Newark
Cognitive, Computational and Network Neuroscience
Director of the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (PhD),
Rutgers University-Newark
Cognitive, Computational and Network Neuroscience
10) Please check out the full paper here: “Dynamically shifting from compositional to conjunctive brain representations supports cognitive task learning”, doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Dynamically shifting from compositional to conjunctive brain representations supports cognitive task learning - Nature Communications
Learning shifts multi-task representations from compositional to conjunctive formats. Cortical conjunctions uniquely associate with effects of practice, and index switch costs. Subcortex is critical f...
doi.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
10) Please check out the full paper here: “Dynamically shifting from compositional to conjunctive brain representations supports cognitive task learning”, doi.org/10.1038/s414...
9)Our results suggest the shift from compositional-conjunctive representations serves as a general neurocomputational signature of learning. So early experience of learning the cello is reliant on retrieval of compositional reps, whilst later practice encodes more specialized cortical conjunctions.
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
9)Our results suggest the shift from compositional-conjunctive representations serves as a general neurocomputational signature of learning. So early experience of learning the cello is reliant on retrieval of compositional reps, whilst later practice encodes more specialized cortical conjunctions.
8) Despite the observed importance of cortical conjunctions, subcortical regions (hippocampus and cerebellum) have a critical role in orchestrating the cross-network interactions that bind compositional representations into conjunctions.
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
8) Despite the observed importance of cortical conjunctions, subcortical regions (hippocampus and cerebellum) have a critical role in orchestrating the cross-network interactions that bind compositional representations into conjunctions.
7) The strength of conjunctions specifically in cortex index the extent/robustness of practice, associating with behavioral improvement, increased pattern separation and resistance to task switching costs.
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
7) The strength of conjunctions specifically in cortex index the extent/robustness of practice, associating with behavioral improvement, increased pattern separation and resistance to task switching costs.
6)We find that novel tasks rely on task-general compositional representations (allowing transfer of abstract knowledge), whereas practiced tasks are reliant on task-specific conjunctions (allowing for specialization/expertise). Conjunctions originate in subcortex before slowly spreading to cortex.
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
6)We find that novel tasks rely on task-general compositional representations (allowing transfer of abstract knowledge), whereas practiced tasks are reliant on task-specific conjunctions (allowing for specialization/expertise). Conjunctions originate in subcortex before slowly spreading to cortex.
5) We tackled this question here, using functional MRI to scan healthy young adults as they performed a battery of complex tasks, from first novel presentation through hours of practice.
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
5) We tackled this question here, using functional MRI to scan healthy young adults as they performed a battery of complex tasks, from first novel presentation through hours of practice.
4) Although the effects of practice in improving behavior are well-established, what happens in the brain to allow us to perform tasks when they are novel through repeated practice remains mysterious.
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
4) Although the effects of practice in improving behavior are well-established, what happens in the brain to allow us to perform tasks when they are novel through repeated practice remains mysterious.
3)However, practice is required to move from mere competency towards proficiency/expertise. Whilst transfer of prior knowledge may allow you to play “Mary had a little lamb” on the cello within days-weeks, it will require months-years of practice to play more complex pieces, like Bach’s cello suites
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
3)However, practice is required to move from mere competency towards proficiency/expertise. Whilst transfer of prior knowledge may allow you to play “Mary had a little lamb” on the cello within days-weeks, it will require months-years of practice to play more complex pieces, like Bach’s cello suites
2) We all perform a multitude of cognitive tasks every day. Many tasks are novel, requiring rapid transfer of prior knowledge to achieve basic competency. E.g., when learning to play the cello, you may benefit from prior knowledge of sheet music or prior experience with another bowed instrument...
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
2) We all perform a multitude of cognitive tasks every day. Many tasks are novel, requiring rapid transfer of prior knowledge to achieve basic competency. E.g., when learning to play the cello, you may benefit from prior knowledge of sheet music or prior experience with another bowed instrument...