Brain potentials predict learning, transmission and modification of an artificial symbolic system.

ABSTRACT: It has recently been argued that symbolic systems evolve while they are being transmitted across generations of learners, gradually adapting to the relevant brain structures and processes. In the context of this hypothesis, little is known on whether individual differences in neural processing capacity account for aspects of 'variation' observed in symbolic behavior and symbolic systems. We addressed this issue in the domain of auditory processing. We conducted a combined behavioral and EEG study on 2 successive days. On day 1, participants listened to standard and deviant five-tone sequences: as in previous oddball studies, an mismatch negativity (MMN) was elicited by deviant tones. On day 2, participants learned an artificial signaling system from a trained confederate of the experimente

SUBMITTER: Lumaca M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5141963 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature