The neural bases of regularity learning [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Christian Döller

The Neural Bases of Regularity LearningDissertationzur Erlangung des Grades eines Doktors der Philosophieder Philosophischen Fakultaten der Universitat des Saarlandesvorgelegt von Dipl-Psych. Christian Dollergeboren am 10.12.1973 in WurzburgDekan:Prof. Dr. Rainer Krause, Universitat des SaarlandesBerichterstatter:Prof. Dr. Axel Mecklinger, Universitat des SaarlandesPD Dr. Hubert Zimmer, Universitat desTag der Disputation:14.02.2005I~Fur TanjaIIWe must suppose a very delicate adjustment whereby the circulation follows the needs ofthe cerebral activity. Blood very likely may rush to each region of the cortex according asit is most active, but of this we know nothing.William James, The Principles of Psychology (1890)Cognitive neuroscience can move forward with greater con denc e in the knowledge thatchanges in blood ow and oxygen levels do represent de nable alterations in neuronal ac-tivity.Marcus E. Raichle, Nature, 412 (2001)IIIAbstractThe existence of two separate learning and memory systems has been proposed in experi-mental psychology and cognitive neuroscience (Chapter 1), specialized for complementaryfunctions, namely (1) fast learning unique episodes ( rst system; Chapter 2) and (2) grad-ual learning regularities across multiple episodes (second 3). The presentthesis aimed at specifying the neural and cognitive bases of the second system.