Article 2019

Pupil-linked phasic arousal evoked by violation but not emergence of regularity within rapid sound sequences

{The ability to track the statistics of our surroundings is a key computational challenge. A prominent theory proposes that the brain monitors for unexpected uncertainty \textendash events which deviate substantially from model predictions, indicating model failure. Norepinephrine is thought to play a key role in this process by serving as an interrupt signal, initiating model-resetting. However, evidence is from paradigms where participants actively monitored stimulus statistics. To determine whether Norepinephrine routinely reports the statistical structure of our surroundings, even when not behaviourally relevant, we used rapid tone-pip sequences that contained salient pattern-changes associated with abrupt structural violations vs. emergence of regular structure. Phasic pupil dilations (PDR) were monitored to assess Norepinephrine. We reveal a remarkable specificity: When not behaviourally relevant, only abrupt structural violations evoke a PDR. The results demonstrate that Norepinephrine tracks unexpected uncertainty on rapid time scales relevant to sensory signals.}

Author(s): Zhao, S and Chait, M and Dick, F and Dayan, P and Furukawa, S and Liao, HI
Journal: {Nature Communications}
Volume: 10
Pages: 1--16
Year: 2019
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Bibtex Type: Article (article)
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12048-1
Address: London
Electronic Archiving: grant_archive

BibTex

@article{item_3161323,
  title = {{Pupil-linked phasic arousal evoked by violation but not emergence of regularity within rapid sound sequences}},
  journal = {{Nature Communications}},
  abstract = {{The ability to track the statistics of our surroundings is a key computational challenge. A prominent theory proposes that the brain monitors for unexpected uncertainty \textendash events which deviate substantially from model predictions, indicating model failure. Norepinephrine is thought to play a key role in this process by serving as an interrupt signal, initiating model-resetting. However, evidence is from paradigms where participants actively monitored stimulus statistics. To determine whether Norepinephrine routinely reports the statistical structure of our surroundings, even when not behaviourally relevant, we used rapid tone-pip sequences that contained salient pattern-changes associated with abrupt structural violations vs. emergence of regular structure. Phasic pupil dilations (PDR) were monitored to assess Norepinephrine. We reveal a remarkable specificity: When not behaviourally relevant, only abrupt structural violations evoke a PDR. The results demonstrate that Norepinephrine tracks unexpected uncertainty on rapid time scales relevant to sensory signals.}},
  volume = {10},
  pages = {1--16},
  publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
  address = {London},
  year = {2019},
  slug = {item_3161323},
  author = {Zhao, S and Chait, M and Dick, F and Dayan, P and Furukawa, S and Liao, HI}
}