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The brain learns more successes than failures condemn

Conventional wisdom tells us otherwise, but brain cells can learn from the experience only when you do something well and when it fails , according to a study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge (USA) published in the journal Neuron.

Researchers have managed to capture the learning process that shows how individual cells change their responses in real time as a result of information about what is right action and what's wrong. Scientists conducted experiments with monkeys in which the animals were provided with the task of examining two alternating images on a computer screen. In the case of images, the animals were rewarded when they drove their gaze to the right. In the case of the other image, were supposed to look to the left. The monkeys used trial and error to discover which images require different movements.

The researchers found that if the answers of the animals were right or wrong echoed parts of their brains with the impact of their responses for several seconds. Neuronal activity that followed a correct response and a reward helped the monkey to make better test appeared seconds later.

"If the monkey managed to respond well, a signal is maintained in the brain that seemed to say 'you did well." Just after a correct answer, the neurons processed information more vigorous and effective and the monkey was more likely to respond well to the next question. But after an error is not produced improvement. In other words, only after successes and failures not

processing brain and behavior of the monkeys improved, "says Earl K. Miller, coauthor of the study. Processing

learning

prefrontal cortex organizes thoughts and actions in line with internal targets while the basal ganglia is associated with motor control, cognition and emotion. This work shows that these two brain areas suspected of playing key roles in learning and memory, have all the information to perform the necessary neural processing in learning.

The researchers found activity in many neurons of these two brain areas that reflected the administration or withholding of a reward that lasted several seconds, until next year. Single neurons transmitting information in both areas steadily for four or six seconds, completing the space between exercises.

The selectivity of the response was strongest in a given year if the previous year had received a reward or weaker if it had been a mistake. This occurred when the animal was learning the association or was already good at it.

After a correct answer, the electrical impulses coming from the neurons in these brain areas were stronger and transmitting information. "The signal to noise rate improved in both brain regions. The strength of the response I had to get it right in the following year. This explains why neural level seems to learn more from our failures than our successes, "concluded Miller.

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