Connectionists: World wide VVTNS series: Wednesday, January 31 at 11am (ET), Jonathan Kadmon | The Hebrew University

[David Hansel]

[image: VVTNS.png]
https://www.wwtns.online - on twitter: wwtns at TheoreticalWide

You are cordially invited to the lecture  given by

Jonathan Kadmon

The Hebrew University

on the topic of

"Neural mechanisms of adaptive behavior"

The lecture will be held on zoom on *January 31, 2024*, at *11:00 am ET *

https://u-paris.zoom.us/j/87296214746?pwd=V3oyZ1JaQUxWVWp1TS9LS0ZiM0xiQT09
<https://streaklinks.com/A9c7PbX_v605iPoFlQDfpvyU/https%3A%2F%2Fu-paris.zoom.us%2Fj%2F87296214746%3Fpwd%3DV3oyZ1JaQUxWVWp1TS9LS0ZiM0xiQT09>


Id: 872 9621 4746

Passwd: 688274


*Abstract:* Animals and humans rapidly adapt their behavior to dynamic
environmental changes, such as predator threats or fluctuating food
resources, often without immediate rewards. Existing literature posits that
animals rely on internal representations of the environment, termed
“beliefs”, for their decision policy. However, previous work ties belief
updates to external reward signals, which does not explain adaptation in
scenarios where trial-and-error approaches are inefficient or potentially
perilous. In this work, we propose that the brain utilize dynamic
representations that continuously infer the state of the environment,
allowing it to update behavior rapidly. I will present a Bayesian theory
for state inference in a partially observed Markov Decision Process with
multiple interacting latent variables. Optimal behavior requires knowledge
of hidden interactions between latent states. I will show that recurrent
neural networks trained through reinforcement solve the task by learning
the hidden interaction between latent states, and their activity encodes
the dynamics of the optimal Bayesian estimators. The behavior of rodents
trained on an identical task aligns with our theoretical model and neural
network simulations, suggesting that the brain utilizes dynamic internal
state representation and inference.


*About VVTNS : Created as the World Wide Neuroscience Seminar (WWTNS) in
November 2020 and renamed in homage to Carl van Vreeswijk in Memoriam
(April 20, 2022), its aim is to be a platform to exchange ideas among
theoreticians. Speakers have the occasion to talk about theoretical aspects
of their work which cannot be discussed in a setting where the majority of
the audience consists of experimentalists. The seminars, **held on
Wednesdays at 11 am ET,**  are 45-50 min long followed by a discussion. The
talks are recorded with authorization of the speaker and are available to
everybody on our YouTube channel.*
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-- 
'Life is good ..' (Carl van Vreeswijk, 1962-2022)
---------------------------------------
David Hansel
Directeur de Recherche  au CNRS
Co-Group leader
Cerebral Dynamics Plasticity and Learning lab., CNRS
45 rue des Saints Peres 75270 Paris Cedex 06
Tel (Cell):   +33 607508403 - Fax (33).1.49.27.90.62

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