title: Encoding, preparation and implementation of novel complex verbal instructions.
abstract: Verbal instructions allow humans to acquire and implement complex novel rules in few seconds. A major question that remains elusive is how the brain represents this information prior to successful task execution. In this experiment, we studied the brain regions involved in representing categorical stimulus information during the encoding of novel instructions, their preparation and also their implementation, as well as the relation of the fidelity of these representations to observable behavior. To do so, we devised a novel instructions paradigm to delimitate these three stages. Using univariate and multivariate analyses of functional magnetic resonance data, our study revealed that the semantic content (faces or letters) of complex novel instructions can be decoded several seconds before the onset of a target, as soon as instructions are encoded. Crucially, the quality of the information represented in domain-general and category-selective regions correlated with subsequent behavioral performance. This suggests that the rapid transformation of novel instructions into coherent behavior is supported by control mechanisms that use available, relevant information about the current rule prior to its execution. In addition, our results highlight the relation between these control processes and others such as prospective memory and maintenance of future intentions.
authors.affiliation: Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; Department of Experimental Psychology, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-García
authors.affiliation: Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; Department of Experimental Psychology, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arco
authors.affiliation: Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; Department of Experimental Psychology, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Palenciano
authors.affiliation: Department of Signal Theory, Telematics and Communications, CITIC-UGR, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; Department of Experimental Psychology, 18071 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: mruz@ugr.es.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D000066499:Facial Recognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D012660:Semantics; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Functional MRI; High-level cognition; Preparation; Task setting; Verbal instructions