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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (HKUECE) 電機與計算機工程系
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TZID:Asia/Hong_Kong
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DTSTART:20250101T000000
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260306T110000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Hong_Kong:20260306T120000
DTSTAMP:20260511T075000
CREATED:20260302T022309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T025720Z
UID:114954-1772794800-1772798400@ece.hku.hk
SUMMARY:Seminar on Cross-Species Functional MRI (fMRI) Investigations of Reinforcement Learning
DESCRIPTION:Abstract\nReinforcement learning in humans depends on distributed neural circuits for value updating and behavioural adaptation. Cross-species comparisons\, particularly with macaques\, greatly facilitate our understanding of these mechanisms in humans by revealing conserved and evolved elements\, but they crucially depend on precise anatomical alignment to identify homologous regions and interpret functional parallels or divergences across species. \nIn this talk\, I will synthesise recent cross-species fMRI evidence on prefrontal contributions to reinforcement learning. I will first outline key methods for anatomical comparison that enable functional inferences across species despite marked differences in brain morphologies. I will then present findings from reversal learning tasks in humans and macaques\, demonstrating conserved orbitofrontal cortex signals that support rapid value updating in response to changing reward contingencies. Next\, I will discuss anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activations in both species\, which play a key role in enacting adaptive changes. Finally\, I will highlight the anatomical uniqueness of the human frontopolar cortex (FPC)\, particularly its lateral subdivision\, which lacks a clear homolog in macaques and shows emerging functional importance in our recent findings for handling higher-dimensional aspects of reinforcement learning. \nSpeaker\nProf. Bolton KH CHAU\nDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences\,\nThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University \nSpeaker’s Biography\nProf. Bolton KH CHAU is an Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received my DPhil from the University of Oxford and was APS Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. His research interests lie in decision neuroscience\, with a particular focus on how the brain integrates information and sometimes arrives at irrational or biased choices. He adopts a multidisciplinary approach\, combining computational modelling\, behavioural experiments\, brain imaging\, and brain stimulation to investigate the mechanisms underlying decision-making in both simple and complex contexts. Recently\, he has developed a keen interest in the frontopolar cortex\, a region uniquely expanded in the human brain\, and its role in supporting complex decision-making. This work is supported by the RGC Collaborative Research Fund. \nOrganiser\nDr. Alex Tze Lun LEONG\nDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering\,\nThe University of Hong Kong \nAcknowledgement\nTam Wing Fan Innovation Wing Two\n\nAll are welcome!
URL:https://ece.hku.hk/events/20260306-1/
LOCATION:Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing Two\, G/F\, Run Run Shaw Building\, The University of Hong Kong
CATEGORIES:Highlights,Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ece.hku.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/12801.jpg
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