From Cognition to Action: Perspectives from the Ventral and Dorsal Frontostriatal Circuits

Host: Prof. Aihua Chen, East China Normal University

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Abstract:

The frontostriatal circuit plays a crucial role in mediating essential brain functions that integrate cognition, emotion, and motor control. Recently, we have proposed that the frontostriatal circuit can be broadly categorized into ventral and dorsal systems. This classification is based on whether the projections target the dorsal or ventral striatum. The ventral circuit is critical for associating objects in the environment with specific internal states, thereby helping to define behavioral goals. In contrast, the dorsal circuit is vital for representing the spatial locations of relevant objects and dynamically determining the actions required to achieve those goals. In this talk, I will present my recent research that supports this hypothesis.

Biography:

Hua is a newly appointed professor at Beijing Normal University. His research focuses on the neural circuit basis of higher-level cognitive functions in macaques, utilizing large-scale recording and computational modeling techniques. He completed his PhD studies at Nanchang University and Wake Forest University, where he investigated neural plasticity in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive training (PNAS 2019; Nat Comm 2022). During his postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health, he systematically examined the representation, transfer, and flow of value information in frontostriatal circuits during reinforcement learning (Nat Comm 2021; Cell Rep 2022; Neuron 2024). Looking ahead, Hua plans to investigate the coevolution of cognitive functions and neural circuits through comparative studies across various species.

This event is open to the NYU Shanghai, East China Normal University, and Neuroscience community.