Thilo Womelsdorf

Broad Cognitive and Motivational Enhancement through M4-Selective Muscarinic Modulation

This study evaluates a M4-selective PAM in nonhuman primates, showing broad cognitive and motivational improvements without adverse side effects.

Planning in Nonhuman Primates Emerges from Structure Knowledge and is Distinct from Attention, Working Memory, Effort Control, and Learning

This study shows that planning in non-human primates is a distinct cognitive ability separate from working memory, attention, and learning.

Inhibitory Control, Shifting, and Working Memory Updating Domains form Cognitive Phenotypes in Non-human Primates

This study identifies four separable cognitive factors in non-human primates through multi-task assessments, revealing distinct cognitive phenotypes related to executive functions.

KIASORT: Knowledge-Integrated Automated Spike Sorting for Geometry-Free Neuron Tracking

KIASORT improves spike sorting by tracking neuron-specific drift without relying on probe geometry, outperforming Kilosort4 in benchmarks.

Cognitive engagement induces area-specific fingerprints of dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, glutamate and GABA in prefrontal cortex and striatum

The paper examines how cognitive engagement alters neurochemical profiles in the prefrontal cortex and striatum of nonhuman primates, identifying area-specific changes in dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, glutamate, and GABA.

Assessing Attentiveness and Cognitive Engagement across Tasks using Video-based Action Understanding in Non-Human Primates

This paper introduces a video-based analysis pipeline to classify cognitive states like attentiveness and engagement in non-human primates during tasks, achieving >90% decoding accuracy.

Two Distinct Attentional Priorities Guide Exploratory and Exploitative Gaze in Parallel

The paper shows that gaze is guided by two attentional priorities: exploratory attention for uncertainty and exploitative attention for reward history, using nonhuman primates in a learning task.

Parallel Belief States account for Learning and Updating of Attentional Priorities in Multidimensional Environments

The paper models how attentional priorities are updated in multidimensional environments using parallel belief states to explain learning and decision-making.

Neuronal Decoding of Decisions in Multidimensional Feature Space Using a Gated Recurrent Variational Autoencoder

This paper develops a gated recurrent variational autoencoder to decode decision-making from neuronal data in monkeys, showing comparable accuracy in multidimensional feature space.

A Toolbox for Generating Multidimensional 3-D Objects with Fine-Controlled Feature Space: Quaddle 2.0

The paper introduces a toolbox for generating 3D objects with fine-controlled feature space, enabling efficient creation and manipulation of multidimensional visual features.

Flexible Learning and Re-ordering of Context-dependent Object Sequences in Nonhuman Primates

This study shows nonhuman primates can re-index objects to non-adjacent positions in learned sequences using context cues, suggesting they form cognitive maps of serial experiences.

Noradrenergic alpha-2a Receptor Stimulation Enhances Prediction Error Signaling in Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Striatum

This study shows that stimulating 2A adrenoceptors with Guanfacine improves error-based learning and prediction error signaling in the anterior cingulate cortex and striatum of nonhuman primates.

Adaptive Reinforcement Learning is causally supported by Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Striatum

This study shows that ACC and striatum causally adjust exploration-exploitation balance during reinforcement learning, with opposing effects on learning from reward outcomes.

Routing States Transition During Oscillatory Bursts and Attentional Selection

The paper shows fast spatio-temporal routing of spiking activity across brain areas during attention and decision-making, with directional lead/lag relationships modulated by oscillatory bursts.

M1 selective muscarinic allosteric modulation enhances cognitive flexibility and effective salience in nonhuman primates

This study shows that M1 receptor selective modulation improves cognitive flexibility without affecting attentional filtering in nonhuman primates.

Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation in Anterior Cingulate Cortex Impairs Information Sampling and Learning in Loss Contexts

This study shows that disrupting the anterior cingulate cortex with ultrasound impairs learning from loss experiences, especially under high cognitive demand.

Interneuron Specific Gamma Synchronization Indexes Cue Uncertainty and Prediction Errors in Lateral Prefrontal and Anterior Cingulate Cortex

The paper identifies an interneuron subclass in primate prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex that shows gamma synchronization linked to uncertainty and prediction errors during learning.

Interactions of medial and lateral prefrontal cortex in hierarchical predictive coding

The paper extends a computational model of medial and lateral prefrontal cortex interaction to incorporate real-time dynamics and demonstrates its ability to capture neurophysiological and behavioral effects.

Phase of Firing Coding of Learning Variables across Prefrontal Cortex, Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Striatum during Feature Learning

The paper investigates phase-of-firing coding in the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and striatum during feature learning, finding that phase coding multiplexes information about outcomes, outcome history, and prediction errors.

Cell-type Specific Learning of Attentional Gating in Primate Striatum

The paper identifies cell-type specific changes in cortico-striatal gating during feature-based learning in nonhuman primates.

Double Dissociation of Nicotinic alpha-7 and alpha-4/beta-2 Sub-receptor Agonists for Enhancing Learning and Attentional Filtering of Distraction

The paper investigates the distinct roles of alpha-7 and alpha-4/beta-2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists in learning and attentional filtering using nonhuman primates, finding a double dissociation in their effects.

A distinct class of bursting neurons with strong gamma synchronization and stimulus selectivity in monkey V1

The paper identifies a distinct class of bursting neurons in monkey V1 that show strong gamma synchronization and stimulus selectivity, suggesting a role in encoding visual information.

Adaptive Spike-Artifact Removal from Local Field Potentials Uncovers Prominent Beta and Gamma Band Neuronal Synchronization

This paper introduces an adaptive spike-artifact removal method for LFP data, revealing beta and gamma band neuronal synchronization previously obscured by spike bleed-through artifacts.

Multi-Neuromodulator Measurements across Fronto-Striatal Network Areas of the Behaving Macaque using Solid-Phase Microextraction

The paper uses SPME to measure multiple neuromodulators in macaque brains during behavior, finding glutamate concentrations much higher than dopamine and acetylcholine.

USE: An integrative suite for temporally-precise psychophysical experiments in virtual environments for human, nonhuman, and artificially intelligent agents

The paper introduces USE, an open-source framework for designing and controlling complex behavioral neuroscience experiments in virtual environments for humans, nonhumans, and AI agents.

Multiscale Adaptive Gabor Expansion (MAGE): Improved Detection of Transient Oscillatory Burst Amplitude and Phase

The paper introduces MAGE, a method for detecting transient oscillatory burst amplitude and phase with improved accuracy using adaptive Gabor expansions.

Hippocampal and neocortical oscillations are tuned to behavioral state in freely-behaving macaques

The paper shows that theta oscillations in macaque neocortex and hippocampus are stronger during early-stage sleep compared to alert movement, while hippocampal beta and gamma oscillations are more active during walking and other active behaviors.

Feature Specific Prediction Errors and Surprise across Macaque Fronto-Striatal Circuits during Attention and Learning

The paper shows neurons in fronto-striatal circuits encode feature-specific prediction errors during attention and learning, contributing to feature-based attention updates.

Asymmetric effective connectivity between primate anterior cingulate and lateral prefrontal cortex revealed by electrical microstimulation.

The paper investigates effective connectivity between primate ACC and IPFC using electrical microstimulation and finds systematic asymmetries in temporal patterning and latency.

Quaddles: A multidimensional 3D object set with parametrically-controlled and customizable features

The paper introduces Quaddles, a customizable 3D object set for vision and cognition studies, designed to reduce bias and improve efficiency in object selection and task development.