Biological Intelligence: Motor Learning and Neuromodulation

This lecture discusses the intricate relationship between biological intelligence and motor learning, emphasizing the role of neuromodulation in adaptive behavior. The instructor begins by contrasting biological intelligence with artificial intelligence, highlighting the rapid adaptability of human movement, as seen in athletes. The lecture delves into the neural circuits involved in motor control, including the spinal cord, cerebellum, and motor cortex, and explains the corticospinal tract's function in executing movements. The instructor presents a model of motor learning that incorporates sensory prediction errors and discusses how these errors drive adaptive learning. The role of the somatosensory cortex in processing sensory feedback and updating motor commands is examined through experimental findings. The lecture also covers the significance of neuromodulators, particularly acetylcholine, in learning and attention, and introduces vagus nerve stimulation as a therapeutic approach for enhancing motor learning and rehabilitation after strokes. The session concludes with a discussion on the potential of closed-loop stimulation to improve outcomes in clinical settings.