Developing Intuition: Neural Correlates of Cognitive-Skill Learning in Caudate Nucleus

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2312-12.2012
• Publication Date: 2012-11-28T17:43:04Z
• Authors: Xiaohong Wan; Daisuke Takano; Takeshi Asamizuya; Chisato Suzuki; Kenichi Ueno; Kang Cheng; Takeshi Ito; Keiji Tanaka
• Keywords: Caudate nucleus; Intuition

The superior capability of cognitive experts largely depends on automatic, quick information processing, which is often referred to as intuition. Intuition develops following extensive long-term training. There are many models intuition development, but its neural basis not known. Here we trained novices for 15 weeks learn a simple board game and measured their brain activities in early end phases the training while they quickly generated best next-move given pattern. We found that activation head caudate nucleus developed over course training, parallel development generate next-move, magnitude activity was correlated with subject's performance. In contrast, cortical activations, already appeared phase did further change. Thus, head, those areas, tracked indicating circuitries including may automate computations.