Paper
Preprint
0
Experience shapes initial exploration for non-generalizable spatial learning
Authors
Michelle P Awh,Kenneth W Latimer
Nan Zhou,Zachary M Leveroni,Zoe M Stephens,Jai Y Yu,Michelle Awh,Kenneth Latimer,Zachary Leveroni,Zoe Stephens
+8 authors
,Jinxin YuPublished
Dec 27, 2023
Show more
Save
Tip0
TipSave
Experience shapes initial exploration for non-generalizable spatial learning1
2
Michelle P. Awh1, Kenneth W. Latimer1, 2, 3, Nan Zhou4, 5, Zachary M. Leveroni14, 5, Zoe M. Stephens6
3
and Jai Y. Yu1, 4, 5, #
4
5
1 Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago6
2 Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago7
3 Grossman Center for Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago8
4 Department of Psychology, University of Chicago9
5 Institute for Mind and Biology, University of Chicago10
6 University of Chicago Laboratory Schools11
12
# Corresponding author13
14
Abstract15
Experience can change how individuals learn. Learning to solve a new problem can be16
accelerated by generalizing known rules in the new context, but the impact of experience on solving17
problems where generalization cannot be applied remains unclear. To study the impact of experience on18
solving new problems that are distinct from previously learned tasks, we examined how rats learned a19
new spatial navigation task after having previously learned different sets of spatial navigation tasks. The20
new task differed from the previous tasks in spatial layout and navigation rule, and could not be solved by21
applying previously learned rules. We found that different experience histories did not impact task22
performance in the new task. However, by examining navigation choices made by rats, we found23
exploration patterns during the early stage of learning in the new task was dependent on experience24
history. We identified these behavioral differences by analyzing each rat9s navigation choices and by25
modeling their choice sequences with a modified distance dependent Chinese restaurant process. We26
.CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licenseavailable under a
(which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made
The copyright holder for this preprintthis version posted December 27, 2023.;https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.26.573368doi:bioRxiv preprint
2
Michelle P. Awh1, Kenneth W. Latimer1, 2, 3, Nan Zhou4, 5, Zachary M. Leveroni14, 5, Zoe M. Stephens6
3
and Jai Y. Yu1, 4, 5, #
4
5
1 Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago6
2 Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago7
3 Grossman Center for Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago8
4 Department of Psychology, University of Chicago9
5 Institute for Mind and Biology, University of Chicago10
6 University of Chicago Laboratory Schools11
12
# Corresponding author13
14
Abstract15
Experience can change how individuals learn. Learning to solve a new problem can be16
accelerated by generalizing known rules in the new context, but the impact of experience on solving17
problems where generalization cannot be applied remains unclear. To study the impact of experience on18
solving new problems that are distinct from previously learned tasks, we examined how rats learned a19
new spatial navigation task after having previously learned different sets of spatial navigation tasks. The20
new task differed from the previous tasks in spatial layout and navigation rule, and could not be solved by21
applying previously learned rules. We found that different experience histories did not impact task22
performance in the new task. However, by examining navigation choices made by rats, we found23
exploration patterns during the early stage of learning in the new task was dependent on experience24
history. We identified these behavioral differences by analyzing each rat9s navigation choices and by25
modeling their choice sequences with a modified distance dependent Chinese restaurant process. We26
.CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licenseavailable under a
(which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made
The copyright holder for this preprintthis version posted December 27, 2023.;https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.26.573368doi:bioRxiv preprint
100%
