vincent ferrera - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by vincent ferrera
The observation that monkeys make transitive inferences has been taken as evidence of their abili... more The observation that monkeys make transitive inferences has been taken as evidence of their ability to form and manipulate mental representations. However, alternative explanations have been proposed arguing that transitive inference performance is based on expected or experienced reward value. We performed two experiments, in which we manipulated the amount of reward associated with each item in an ordered list, to test the contribution of reward value to monkeys' behavior in TI paradigms. Monkeys were presented with pairs of list items and were rewarded if they selected the item with the earlier list rank. When reward magnitude was biased to favor later list items, correct responding was reduced. However, monkeys eventually learned to make correct rule-based choices despite opposing incentives. The results demonstrate that monkeys' performance in TI paradigms is not driven solely by expected reward and that they are able to make appropriate inferences when given discordant rewards.
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
This introductory chapter describes and explains the focus of the book which is to present attent... more This introductory chapter describes and explains the focus of the book which is to present attention modelling in a multidisciplinary perspective. We first address the preliminary question of why one should care about modelling attention. First we show that it is a gate of conscious awareness at the interface between inner and outer and it is the key to survival. In the second time, we show that attentive computers using models of attention could be able to find regularities and irregularities in the input signal and thus be able to detect and react to unexpected or abnormal events.
In a dynamic environment an organism has to constantly adjust ongoing behavior to adapt to a give... more In a dynamic environment an organism has to constantly adjust ongoing behavior to adapt to a given context. This process requires continuous monitoring of ongoing behavior to provide its meaningful interpretation. The caudate nucleus is known to have a role in behavioral monitoring, but the nature of these signals during dynamic behavior is still unclear. We recorded neuronal activity in the caudate nucleus in monkeys during categorization behavior that changed rapidly across contexts. We found that neuronal activity maintained representation of the identity and context of a recently categorized stimulus, as well as interpreted the behavioral meaningfulness of the maintained trace. The accuracy of this cognitive monitoring signal was highest for behavior for which subjects were prone to make errors. Thus, the caudate nucleus provides interpretive monitoring of ongoing behavior, which is necessary for contextually specific decisions to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
Attention plays many roles in perception and behavior, one of the most important being the enhanc... more Attention plays many roles in perception and behavior, one of the most important being the enhancement of responses to subtle stimuli that might otherwise go unnoticed. The computational mechanisms that underlie attention’s role in stimulus detectability can be understood through the lens of signal detection theory (SDT). Attention can improve detectability by modifying signal and noise characteristics, optimizing decision criteria, and pooling across multiple detectors. SDT provides an integrated account of the effects of stimulus prevalence, and the effect of rewards and punishments. By computing detectability across the visual field, one can construct salience maps that take into account stimulus strength, likelihood, and value.
Springer eBooks, May 18, 2016
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, May 1, 2017
Drug delivery to subcortical regions is susceptible to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impeding the... more Drug delivery to subcortical regions is susceptible to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impeding the molecular exchange between the blood stream and the brain parenchyma. Focused ultrasound coupled with the administration of microbubbles has been proven to open the BBB locally, transiently and non-invasively both in rodents and in Non-Human-Primates (NHPs). The development of this disruption technique independent of MRI monitoring is of primordial importance yet restrained to the targeting optimization. The current paper establishes the linear relationship of the incidence angle with the volume of BBB opening (V BBB) and the Peak Negative Pressure (PNP) when sonicating the Caudate Nucleus and the Putamen region of five non-human-primates. In addition, the effect of central nervous system structures on the opening morphology is evaluated by identification of the gray-to-white-matter ratio at the opening site. Finally, the targeting accuracy is assessed through estimation of the geometric and angle shift of the opening from the targeted region. Interestingly, results prove a monotonic increase of the opening volume with close to normal incidence angles. Moreover, 80.35% of the opening lies on gray matter regions compared to only 19.41% attributed to the white matter. The opening was found to be shifted axially, towards the transducer, and laterally with an average angle shift at 4.5°. Finally, we were capable of showing reproducibility of targeting accuracy with the same stereotactic and ultrasonic parameters. This study documents the a priori prediction of the opening volume through manipulation of the angle and pressure as well as establishing the predictability, accuracy and safety of FUS induced BBB opening in NHPs. DISCLOSURE/CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
Researchers who are interested in attention generally have one or more of the following goals: 1)... more Researchers who are interested in attention generally have one or more of the following goals: 1) to identify sources of information in the environment that are selected and prioritized by the observer, 2) to quantify the effect of attention on task performance, and 3) to identify neural correlates of attention. When considering methods to measure attention, it is important to distinguish between overt and covert orienting mechanisms. Overt attention is expressed by movements of the body and can be measured directly by determining the position and velocity of the relevant effectors-primarily the eyes, head, and hands. Covert orienting refers to the ability to direct attention without body movement, and is primarily measured by differences in task performance (e.g. reaction time) that cannot be attributed to changes in the external stimulus. In this chapter we will focus on quantitative techniques that provide finegrain spatial and temporal information about attentive responses at a macro scale. We do not discuss the many psychophysical paradigms that have been used to infer attention based on the speed and accuracy of observer judgments. Micro measurements of single neuron or several neurons using micro-electrodes are not described here. However, in the chapter "Effects of Attention in Visual Cortex: Linking Single Neuron Physiology to Visual Detection and Discrimination", the use of microelectrodes to measure single neuron responses is described. At a macro scale, the attentive response can be either measured directly in the brain, or indirectly through participants' behavior. Only one of the techniques that is described here is based on participant active feedback: mouse tracking. This is because the mouse tracking feedback is very close to eye-tracking and this is an emerging approach of interest for the future: it requires less time, less money and provides more data than classical eye-tracking. All the other methods are direct or indirect and provide objective measures of attention. In a first part the indirect methods are described while direct methods are mainly dealt with in a second stage.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, Sep 1, 2021
Many of the behavioral symptoms that define alcohol use disorder (AUD) are thought to be mediated... more Many of the behavioral symptoms that define alcohol use disorder (AUD) are thought to be mediated by amplified glutamatergic activity. As a result, previous preclinical studies have investigated glutamate receptor inhibition as a potential pharmacotherapy for AUD, particularly the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5). In rodents, mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) have been shown to decrease alcohol self-administration. However, their effect on non-human primates has not previously been explored. To bridge this gap, the effects of NAM pretreatment on sweetened alcohol (8% w/v in diluted KoolAid) self-administration in female baboons were evaluated. Two different mGlu5 NAMs were tested: 1) 3-2((-Methyl-4-thiazolyl) ethynyl) pyridine (MTEP) which was administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg IM; and 2) auglurant (N-(5-fluoropyridin-2-yl)-6-methyl-4-(pyrimidin-5-yloxy)picolinamide), a newly developed NAM, which was tested under two different routes (0.001, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1 g/kg IM and 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 g/kg PO). MTEP decreased both fixed ratio and progressive ratio responding for sweetened alcohol. Auglurant, administered IM, decreased alcohol self-administration at doses that did not affect self-administration of an alcohol-free sweet liquid reward (0.01 to 0.1 g/kg). Oral administration of auglurant was not effective in decreasing alcohol self-administration. Our results extend positive findings from rodent studies on mGlu5 regulation of alcohol drinking to female baboons and further strengthen the rationale for targeting mGlu5 in clinical trials for AUD.
<div> <div> <div> <div> <p>50 trials of simulated spike trains were... more <div> <div> <div> <div> <p>50 trials of simulated spike trains were generated using a function that changed over time. A. The veridical firing rate, varying from 0 to 20 Hz, over the 50 simulated trials. B. The spike raster resulting from the simulation. C. The ARRIS estimate of the firing rate, using optimized dynamic bandwidths. D. The optimal fixed (dashed line) and dynamic (solid line) bandwidths for these data, as determined using kernel density approximation and generalized cross- validation. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div
<div> <div> <div> <p>Two simulated sessions of neural firing in which the... more <div> <div> <div> <p>Two simulated sessions of neural firing in which the pattern of firing changes over the course of the session. Shaded areas depict the 80% and 99% credible intervals for each estimate. Left. Although each trial has a peak of activity, the time of the peak drifts from early in the trial to late over the course of the session. Estimates performed on subsets of the trials (in red and blue) show these shifting peaks clearly. A marginal estimate using the entire session, however, shows no change in the firing rate, effectively masking this effect. Right. Again, each trial has a single peak of elevated activity. This peak occurs early in the trial for the first half of the session, then abruptly changes to appearing late in the trial. Subsets of trials (red and blue) can correctly characterize the single peak observed during the epoch from which they are sampled, but the marginal estimate predicts two peaks. </p> </div> </div> </div
Means of logistic regression parameters (Equation 1) in Experiment 2, fit for each stimulus pairi... more Means of logistic regression parameters (Equation 1) in Experiment 2, fit for each stimulus pairing in each transposition distance condition. Boxes represent the 80% posterior credible interval, whereas whiskers represent the 99% posterior credible interval. Stimulus pairs with a light gray background (e.g. AB for TD=3) are pairs whose order was reversed at test from the order implied during training. Horizontal dashed lines are means for pairs of a particular symbolic distance in the condition TD=0, to help indicate which parameters in the permuted conditions differed from the maintained condition.
We use functional brain imaging (fMRI) to study neural circuits that underlie decision-making. To... more We use functional brain imaging (fMRI) to study neural circuits that underlie decision-making. To understand how outcomes affect decision processes, simple perceptual tasks are combined with appetitive and aversive reinforcement. However, the use of reinforcers such as juice and airpuffs can create challenges for fMRI. Reinforcer delivery can cause head movement, which creates artifacts in the fMRI signal. Reinforcement can also lead to changes in heart rate and respiration that are mediated by autonomic pathways. Changes in heart rate and respiration can directly affect the fMRI (BOLD) signal in the brain and can be confounded with signal changes that are due to neural activity. In this presentation, we demonstrate methods for administering reinforcers in a controlled manner, for stabilizing the head, and for measuring pulse and respiration. Protocol Equipment Setup The first step in running and fMRI experiment is setting up and checking the equipment. These steps can be done in an...
Any animal [1] from the tiniest insect [2] to humans is perfectly able to “pay attention”. Attent... more Any animal [1] from the tiniest insect [2] to humans is perfectly able to “pay attention”. Attention is the first step of perception: it analyses the outer real world and turns it into an inner conscious representation. Even during dreams and REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movements), eye movement activity suggests that attentional mechanism is at work. But, in this case, it analyses a virtual world coming from the inner subconscious and turns it into an inner conscious representation. Attention seems to be not only the first step of perception, but also the gate to conscious awareness.
Raw data for two monkeys performing a categorical transitive inference task, as well as the R scr... more Raw data for two monkeys performing a categorical transitive inference task, as well as the R script used to analyze the data.
The observation that monkeys make transitive inferences has been taken as evidence of their abili... more The observation that monkeys make transitive inferences has been taken as evidence of their ability to form and manipulate mental representations. However, alternative explanations have been proposed arguing that transitive inference performance is based on expected or experienced reward value. We performed two experiments, in which we manipulated the amount of reward associated with each item in an ordered list, to test the contribution of reward value to monkeys' behavior in TI paradigms. Monkeys were presented with pairs of list items and were rewarded if they selected the item with the earlier list rank. When reward magnitude was biased to favor later list items, correct responding was reduced. However, monkeys eventually learned to make correct rule-based choices despite opposing incentives. The results demonstrate that monkeys' performance in TI paradigms is not driven solely by expected reward and that they are able to make appropriate inferences when given discordant rewards.
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
This introductory chapter describes and explains the focus of the book which is to present attent... more This introductory chapter describes and explains the focus of the book which is to present attention modelling in a multidisciplinary perspective. We first address the preliminary question of why one should care about modelling attention. First we show that it is a gate of conscious awareness at the interface between inner and outer and it is the key to survival. In the second time, we show that attentive computers using models of attention could be able to find regularities and irregularities in the input signal and thus be able to detect and react to unexpected or abnormal events.
In a dynamic environment an organism has to constantly adjust ongoing behavior to adapt to a give... more In a dynamic environment an organism has to constantly adjust ongoing behavior to adapt to a given context. This process requires continuous monitoring of ongoing behavior to provide its meaningful interpretation. The caudate nucleus is known to have a role in behavioral monitoring, but the nature of these signals during dynamic behavior is still unclear. We recorded neuronal activity in the caudate nucleus in monkeys during categorization behavior that changed rapidly across contexts. We found that neuronal activity maintained representation of the identity and context of a recently categorized stimulus, as well as interpreted the behavioral meaningfulness of the maintained trace. The accuracy of this cognitive monitoring signal was highest for behavior for which subjects were prone to make errors. Thus, the caudate nucleus provides interpretive monitoring of ongoing behavior, which is necessary for contextually specific decisions to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
Attention plays many roles in perception and behavior, one of the most important being the enhanc... more Attention plays many roles in perception and behavior, one of the most important being the enhancement of responses to subtle stimuli that might otherwise go unnoticed. The computational mechanisms that underlie attention’s role in stimulus detectability can be understood through the lens of signal detection theory (SDT). Attention can improve detectability by modifying signal and noise characteristics, optimizing decision criteria, and pooling across multiple detectors. SDT provides an integrated account of the effects of stimulus prevalence, and the effect of rewards and punishments. By computing detectability across the visual field, one can construct salience maps that take into account stimulus strength, likelihood, and value.
Springer eBooks, May 18, 2016
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, May 1, 2017
Drug delivery to subcortical regions is susceptible to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impeding the... more Drug delivery to subcortical regions is susceptible to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impeding the molecular exchange between the blood stream and the brain parenchyma. Focused ultrasound coupled with the administration of microbubbles has been proven to open the BBB locally, transiently and non-invasively both in rodents and in Non-Human-Primates (NHPs). The development of this disruption technique independent of MRI monitoring is of primordial importance yet restrained to the targeting optimization. The current paper establishes the linear relationship of the incidence angle with the volume of BBB opening (V BBB) and the Peak Negative Pressure (PNP) when sonicating the Caudate Nucleus and the Putamen region of five non-human-primates. In addition, the effect of central nervous system structures on the opening morphology is evaluated by identification of the gray-to-white-matter ratio at the opening site. Finally, the targeting accuracy is assessed through estimation of the geometric and angle shift of the opening from the targeted region. Interestingly, results prove a monotonic increase of the opening volume with close to normal incidence angles. Moreover, 80.35% of the opening lies on gray matter regions compared to only 19.41% attributed to the white matter. The opening was found to be shifted axially, towards the transducer, and laterally with an average angle shift at 4.5°. Finally, we were capable of showing reproducibility of targeting accuracy with the same stereotactic and ultrasonic parameters. This study documents the a priori prediction of the opening volume through manipulation of the angle and pressure as well as establishing the predictability, accuracy and safety of FUS induced BBB opening in NHPs. DISCLOSURE/CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
Springer series in cognitive and neural systems, 2016
Researchers who are interested in attention generally have one or more of the following goals: 1)... more Researchers who are interested in attention generally have one or more of the following goals: 1) to identify sources of information in the environment that are selected and prioritized by the observer, 2) to quantify the effect of attention on task performance, and 3) to identify neural correlates of attention. When considering methods to measure attention, it is important to distinguish between overt and covert orienting mechanisms. Overt attention is expressed by movements of the body and can be measured directly by determining the position and velocity of the relevant effectors-primarily the eyes, head, and hands. Covert orienting refers to the ability to direct attention without body movement, and is primarily measured by differences in task performance (e.g. reaction time) that cannot be attributed to changes in the external stimulus. In this chapter we will focus on quantitative techniques that provide finegrain spatial and temporal information about attentive responses at a macro scale. We do not discuss the many psychophysical paradigms that have been used to infer attention based on the speed and accuracy of observer judgments. Micro measurements of single neuron or several neurons using micro-electrodes are not described here. However, in the chapter "Effects of Attention in Visual Cortex: Linking Single Neuron Physiology to Visual Detection and Discrimination", the use of microelectrodes to measure single neuron responses is described. At a macro scale, the attentive response can be either measured directly in the brain, or indirectly through participants' behavior. Only one of the techniques that is described here is based on participant active feedback: mouse tracking. This is because the mouse tracking feedback is very close to eye-tracking and this is an emerging approach of interest for the future: it requires less time, less money and provides more data than classical eye-tracking. All the other methods are direct or indirect and provide objective measures of attention. In a first part the indirect methods are described while direct methods are mainly dealt with in a second stage.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, Sep 1, 2021
Many of the behavioral symptoms that define alcohol use disorder (AUD) are thought to be mediated... more Many of the behavioral symptoms that define alcohol use disorder (AUD) are thought to be mediated by amplified glutamatergic activity. As a result, previous preclinical studies have investigated glutamate receptor inhibition as a potential pharmacotherapy for AUD, particularly the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5). In rodents, mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) have been shown to decrease alcohol self-administration. However, their effect on non-human primates has not previously been explored. To bridge this gap, the effects of NAM pretreatment on sweetened alcohol (8% w/v in diluted KoolAid) self-administration in female baboons were evaluated. Two different mGlu5 NAMs were tested: 1) 3-2((-Methyl-4-thiazolyl) ethynyl) pyridine (MTEP) which was administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg IM; and 2) auglurant (N-(5-fluoropyridin-2-yl)-6-methyl-4-(pyrimidin-5-yloxy)picolinamide), a newly developed NAM, which was tested under two different routes (0.001, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1 g/kg IM and 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 g/kg PO). MTEP decreased both fixed ratio and progressive ratio responding for sweetened alcohol. Auglurant, administered IM, decreased alcohol self-administration at doses that did not affect self-administration of an alcohol-free sweet liquid reward (0.01 to 0.1 g/kg). Oral administration of auglurant was not effective in decreasing alcohol self-administration. Our results extend positive findings from rodent studies on mGlu5 regulation of alcohol drinking to female baboons and further strengthen the rationale for targeting mGlu5 in clinical trials for AUD.
<div> <div> <div> <div> <p>50 trials of simulated spike trains were... more <div> <div> <div> <div> <p>50 trials of simulated spike trains were generated using a function that changed over time. A. The veridical firing rate, varying from 0 to 20 Hz, over the 50 simulated trials. B. The spike raster resulting from the simulation. C. The ARRIS estimate of the firing rate, using optimized dynamic bandwidths. D. The optimal fixed (dashed line) and dynamic (solid line) bandwidths for these data, as determined using kernel density approximation and generalized cross- validation. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div
<div> <div> <div> <p>Two simulated sessions of neural firing in which the... more <div> <div> <div> <p>Two simulated sessions of neural firing in which the pattern of firing changes over the course of the session. Shaded areas depict the 80% and 99% credible intervals for each estimate. Left. Although each trial has a peak of activity, the time of the peak drifts from early in the trial to late over the course of the session. Estimates performed on subsets of the trials (in red and blue) show these shifting peaks clearly. A marginal estimate using the entire session, however, shows no change in the firing rate, effectively masking this effect. Right. Again, each trial has a single peak of elevated activity. This peak occurs early in the trial for the first half of the session, then abruptly changes to appearing late in the trial. Subsets of trials (red and blue) can correctly characterize the single peak observed during the epoch from which they are sampled, but the marginal estimate predicts two peaks. </p> </div> </div> </div
Means of logistic regression parameters (Equation 1) in Experiment 2, fit for each stimulus pairi... more Means of logistic regression parameters (Equation 1) in Experiment 2, fit for each stimulus pairing in each transposition distance condition. Boxes represent the 80% posterior credible interval, whereas whiskers represent the 99% posterior credible interval. Stimulus pairs with a light gray background (e.g. AB for TD=3) are pairs whose order was reversed at test from the order implied during training. Horizontal dashed lines are means for pairs of a particular symbolic distance in the condition TD=0, to help indicate which parameters in the permuted conditions differed from the maintained condition.
We use functional brain imaging (fMRI) to study neural circuits that underlie decision-making. To... more We use functional brain imaging (fMRI) to study neural circuits that underlie decision-making. To understand how outcomes affect decision processes, simple perceptual tasks are combined with appetitive and aversive reinforcement. However, the use of reinforcers such as juice and airpuffs can create challenges for fMRI. Reinforcer delivery can cause head movement, which creates artifacts in the fMRI signal. Reinforcement can also lead to changes in heart rate and respiration that are mediated by autonomic pathways. Changes in heart rate and respiration can directly affect the fMRI (BOLD) signal in the brain and can be confounded with signal changes that are due to neural activity. In this presentation, we demonstrate methods for administering reinforcers in a controlled manner, for stabilizing the head, and for measuring pulse and respiration. Protocol Equipment Setup The first step in running and fMRI experiment is setting up and checking the equipment. These steps can be done in an...
Any animal [1] from the tiniest insect [2] to humans is perfectly able to “pay attention”. Attent... more Any animal [1] from the tiniest insect [2] to humans is perfectly able to “pay attention”. Attention is the first step of perception: it analyses the outer real world and turns it into an inner conscious representation. Even during dreams and REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movements), eye movement activity suggests that attentional mechanism is at work. But, in this case, it analyses a virtual world coming from the inner subconscious and turns it into an inner conscious representation. Attention seems to be not only the first step of perception, but also the gate to conscious awareness.
Raw data for two monkeys performing a categorical transitive inference task, as well as the R scr... more Raw data for two monkeys performing a categorical transitive inference task, as well as the R script used to analyze the data.