Format-dependent and format-independent representation of sequential and simultaneous numerosity in the crow endbrain
Format-dependent and format-independent representation of sequential and simultaneous numerosity in the crow endbrain
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DOI：
10.1038/s41467-020-14519-2
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发表时间：
2020-02-04
影响因子：
16.6
通讯作者：
Nieder, Andreas
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ditz, Helen M.;Nieder, Andreas
人类的符号计数技能是建立在一种原始的能力上的，这种能力可以近似估计物品的数量，或者说是数字。到目前为止，人们还在争论是否以不同的格式（即时间序列与空间阵列）呈现的数字在大脑中是抽象的。为了解决这个问题，我们确定了乌鸦的行为特征和神经元代码的顺序和同时数字格式。我们发现一个格式依赖的代表性的不同群体的选择性神经元在感觉编码阶段。然而，一个抽象的和格式无关的数字代码出现，一旦编码阶段完成，数字需要记忆。这些结果表明，一个连续的两阶段代码的分类不同的数字格式，并帮助协调矛盾的研究结果观察到的心理物理学和脑成像。数字被处理为抽象类别，尽管在表示格式上有相当大的变化。通过记录行为乌鸦的单神经元活动，作者显示了鸟类端脑中连续的格式依赖和格式无关的数字编码。
Humans' symbolic counting skills are built on a primordial ability to approximately estimate the number of items, or numerosity. To date it is debated whether numerosities presented in categorically different formats, that is as temporal sequences versus spatial arrays, are represented abstractly in the brain. To address this issue, we identified the behavioral characteristics and neuronal codes for sequential and simultaneous number formats in crows. We find a format-dependent representation by distinct groups of selective neurons during the sensory encoding stage. However, an abstract and format-independent numerosity code emerges once the encoding phase is completed and numerosities needed to be memorized. These results suggest a successive two-stage code for categorically different number formats and help to reconcile conflicting findings observed in psychophysics and brain imaging. Numbers are processed as abstract categories, despite considerable variations in presentation formats. By recording single-neuron activity in behaving crows, the authors show successive format-dependent and format-independent numerosity codes in the avian endbrain.