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New computer model helps reveal how the brain both adapts and misfires
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63994-y https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63994-y
- jt2190 1y agoThe “flight simulator” here is actually a software “brain simulator” built up from a model of actual brain cell biology. Like weather forecasting models, researchers can tweak various aspects of the brain and see what happens.
- IAmBroom 1y agoHeadline is weirdly both dumbed down, and boosted with tech jargon.
- dev_hugepages 1y agoAs a reminder, you should check the original article (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63994-y https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63994-y) to get more extensive and accurate information.
- dang 1y agoThanks, we'll put that link in the toptext as well.
- foundart 1y agoIndeed! Quite interesting. title: The neural basis for uncertainty processing in hierarchical decision making abstract: Hierarchical decisions in natural environments require processing uncertainty across multiple levels, but existing models struggle to explain how animals perform flexible, goal-directed behaviors under such conditions. Here we introduce CogLinks, biologically grounded neural architectures that combine corticostriatal circuits for reinforcement learning and frontal thalamocortical networks for executive control. Through mathematical analysis and targeted lesion, we show that these systems specialize in different forms of uncertainty, and their interaction supports hierarchical decisions by regulating efficient exploration, and strategy switching. We apply CogLinks to a computational psychiatry problem, linking neural dysfunction in schizophrenia to atypical reasoning patterns in decision making. Overall, CogLink fills an important gap in the computational landscape, providing a bridge from neural substrates to higher cognition.
- nyrikki 1y agoFor those who are frustrated with the lack of a fleshed out limitations section, it seems well covered under the peer review which is in the link above or directly below [0] To me the paper is still very interesting, but concerns about computationally intractability and the hardness of approximation questions made me dig deeper. > Specifically, our model aims to bridge biological circuits and computations of uncertainty in a tractable manner. > To address this, we have carefully reframed our claims throughout the manuscript to emphasize that the model is a hypothesis generator rather than a definitive representation of biological circuitry. Under the "All models are wrong, some are useful" I have no doubt this will be useful to some. But I will admit that their claims in the response to Reviewer Comment 4.5 that they "emphasize that the model is a hypothesis generator" doesn't match the published paper IMHO; and that negatively impacted my view of the claims in an admittedly probably unfair manner. [0] https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41467-025-63994-y/MediaObjects/41467_2025_63994_MOESM3_ESM.pdf https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs414...
- dang 1y ago[stub for offtopicness]
- thatgerhard 1y agoOh ffs, stop trying to make science "relevant" by these lame titles. Science is cool, just do that.
- bcraven 1y agoWoe betide those who try to communicate science to a wider audience
- benterix 1y agoWhile I agree with you in general, in this particular case the title is really very loosely related to the actual contents of the article.
- thatgerhard 1y agoI am 200% for communicating science. But while this is titled to attract young minds it's just too old vibed.
- thatgerhard 1y agofrom chatgpt for this article: “Inside the Matrix: How the Brain Rewrites Reality When Learning Goes Wrong” “Neural Jedi Training: How the Brain Masters Skills—and Sometimes Turns to the Dark Side” “Glitch in the Mind: Why Our Brain’s Learning System Sometimes Crashes” “Braincraft: How We Level Up Knowledge—and Why We Sometimes Rage Quit” “Neural Flight School: Why the Brain Sometimes Loses Control of the Plane” “Mind Avengers: When Brain Circuits Team Up—and When They Fight Back” “Stranger Thoughts: What Brain Simulators Reveal About Learning Gone Weird” “Control+Alt+Brain: Rebooting How We Learn and Unlearn” “Mind Simulator 2.0: Debugging the Brain’s Learning Software” “Fast & Curious: How the Brain Learns at High Speed—Until It Skids Out”
- 1y ago
- stefantalpalaru 1y ago[dead]