PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Brain and behavior undergo measurable changes in their underlying state and neuromodulators are thought to contribute to these fluctuations. Why do we undergo such changes, and what function could the underlying neuromodulatory systems perform? Here we examine theoretical answers to these questions with respect to the locus coeruleus/norepinephrine system focusing on peripheral markers for arousal, such as pupil diameter, that are thought to provide a window into brain wide noradrenergic signaling. We explore a computational role for arousal systems in facilitating internal state transitions that facilitate credit assignment and promote accurate perceptions in non-stationary environments. We summarize recent work that supports this idea and highlight open questions as well as alternative views of how arousal affects cognition.
摘要：
大脑和行为在其潜在状态中经历了可测量的变化，并且神经调节剂被认为是导致这些波动的原因。为什么我们会经历这样的变化，以及潜在的神经调节系统可以发挥什么功能？在这里，我们研究了这些问题的理论答案，这些问题涉及到蓝斑/去甲肾上腺素系统，如瞳孔直径，它们被认为提供了进入大脑范围内的去甲肾上腺素能信号的窗口。我们探索了唤醒系统在促进内部状态转换方面的计算作用，这些转换可以促进信用分配并促进非平稳环境中的准确感知。我们总结了支持这一想法的最新工作，并强调了开放问题以及关于唤醒如何影响认知的替代观点。
