Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39312586›Full record

ArticlePLoS computational biology2024

The neural dynamics associated with computational complexity.

Juan Pablo Franco, Peter Bossaerts, Carsten Murawski

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS computational biology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Juan Pablo FrancoCentre for Brain, Mind and Markets The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2608-2035
Peter BossaertsCentre for Brain, Mind and Markets The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2308-2603
Carsten MurawskiCentre for Brain, Mind and Markets The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1237-9535

Funding

University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship from the Faculty of Business and Economics
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Many everyday tasks require people to solve computationally complex problems. However, little is known about the effects of computational hardness on the neural processes associated with solving such problems. Here, we draw on computational complexity theory to address this issue. We performed an experiment in which participants solved several instances of the 0-1 knapsack problem, a combinatorial optimization problem, while undergoing ultra-high field (7T) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Instances varied in computational hardness. We characterize a network of brain regions whose activation was correlated with computational complexity, including the anterior insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the intra-parietal sulcus/angular gyrus. Activation and connectivity changed dynamically as a function of complexity, in line with theoretical computational requirements. Overall, our results suggest that computational complexity theory provides a suitable framework to study the effects of computational hardness on the neural processes associated with solving complex cognitive tasks.

Indexed as

BrainComputational BiologyMagnetic Resonance ImagingAdultBrain MappingCognitionFemaleHumansMaleModels, NeurologicalNerve NetProblem SolvingYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39312586
PMCPMC11449275

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.