Michael W. Cole, PhD

Current affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis

Currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Cognitive Control & Psychopathalogy Lab

Ph.D.: University of Pittsburgh in Neuroscience and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (2009)
B.A.: University of California, Berkeley in Cognitive Science (2003)
Hometown: Napa, CA

Research summary:
My research focuses on discovering the cognitive and neural mechanisms that make human behavior uniquely flexible and intelligent.

My curriculum vitae

Publications:

Cole MW, Etzel JA, Zacks JM, Schneider W and Braver TS (2011). "Rapid transfer of abstract rules to novel contexts in human lateral prefrontal cortex". Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.5:142. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2011.00142

Abstract (Cole, Etzel, et al. (2011)):
Flexible, adaptive behavior is thought to rely on abstract rule representations within lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC), yet it remains unclear how these representations provide such flexibility. We recently demonstrated that humans can learn complex novel tasks in seconds. Here we hypothesized that this impressive mental flexibility may be possible due to rapid transfer of practiced rule representations within LPFC to novel task contexts. We tested this hypothesis using functional MRI and multivariate pattern analysis, classifying LPFC activity patterns across 64 tasks. Classifiers trained to identify abstract rules based on practiced task activity patterns successfully generalized to novel tasks. This suggests humans can transfer practiced rule representations within LPFC to rapidly learn new tasks, facilitating cognitive performance in novel circumstances.

Cole M.W., Anticevic A., Repovs G., Barch D. (2011). "Variable global dysconnectivity and individual differences in schizophrenia". Biological Psychiatry 70(1):43-50. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.02.010 

Abstract (Cole, Anticevic, Repovs, & Barch (2011)):
Background
A fundamental challenge for understanding neuropsychiatric disease is identifying sources of individual differences in psychopathology, especially when there is substantial heterogeneity of symptom expression such as is found in schizophrenia. We hypothesized that such heterogeneity may arise in part from consistently widespread yet variably patterned alterations in the connectivity of focal brain regions.
Methods
We used resting state functional MRI to identify variable global dysconnectivity in 23 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia relative to 22 age, gender, and parental socioeconomic status matched controls using a novel global brain connectivity (GBC) functional MRI method that is robust to high variability across individuals. We examined cognitive functioning using a modified Sternberg task and subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Third Edition. We measured symptom severity using the Scale for Assessment of Positive and Negative Symptoms.
Results
We identified a dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) region with global and highly variable dysconnectivity involving within-PFC under-connectivity and non-PFC over-connectivity in patients. Variability in this ‘under/over’ pattern of dysconnectivity strongly predicted the severity of cognitive deficits (matrix reasoning IQ, verbal IQ, and working memory performance) as well as individual differences in every cardinal symptom domain of schizophrenia (poverty, reality distortion, and disorganization).
Conclusion
These results suggest that global dysconnectivity underlies DLPFC involvement in the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Further, these results demonstrate the possibility that specific patterns of dysconnectivity with a given network hub region may explain individual differences in symptom presentation in schizophrenia. Critically, such findings may extend to other neuropathologies with diverse presentation.

Cole M.W., Bagic A., Kass R., Schneider W. (2010). "Prefrontal Dynamics Underlying Rapid Instructed Task Learning Reverse With Practice". Journal of Neuroscience 30(42):14245-14254. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1662-10.2010.

Abstract (Cole, Bagic, Kass, & Schneider (2010)):
The ability to rapidly reconfigure our minds to perform novel tasks is important for adapting to an ever-changing world, yet little is understood about its basis in the brain. Further, it is unclear how this kind of task preparation changes with practice. Previous research suggests that prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential when preparing to perform either novel or practiced tasks. Building upon recent evidence that PFC is organized in an anterior-to-posterior hierarchy, we postulated that novel and practiced task preparation would differentiate hierarchically distinct regions within PFC across time. Specifically, we hypothesized and confirmed using functional MRI and magnetoencephalography with humans that novel task preparation is a bottom-up process that involves lower-level rule representations in dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) prior to a higher-level rule-integrating task representation in anterior PFC (aPFC). In contrast, we identified a complete reversal of this activity pattern during practiced task preparation. Specifically, we found that practiced task preparation is a top-down process that involves a higher-level rule-integrating task representation (recalled from long-term memory) in aPFC prior to lower-level rule representations in DLPFC. These findings reveal two distinct yet highly inter-related mechanisms for task preparation, one involving task set formation from instructions during rapid instructed task learning and the other involving task set retrieval from long-term memory to facilitate familiar task performance. These two mechanisms demonstrate the exceptional flexibility of human PFC as it rapidly reconfigures cognitive brain networks to implement a wide variety of possible tasks.

Cole M.W., Yeung N., Freiwald W., Botvinick M. (2010). "Conflict Over Cingulate Cortex: Between-Species Differences in Cingulate May Support Enhanced Cognitive Flexibility in Humans". Brain, Behavior, and Evolution 75(4): 239-240. doi: 10.1159/000313860. A response to Schall & Emeric, 2010.

Braver T.S., Cole M.W., Yarkoni T. (2010). "Vive les differences! Individual variation in neural mechanisms of executive control", Current Opinion in Neurobiology 20(2): 242-250. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2010.03.002

Cole M.W., Pathak S., Schneider W. (2010). "Identifying the brain’s most globally connected regions", NeuroImage 49(4): 3132-3148. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.11.001

Abstract (Cole, Pathak, & Schneider 2010):
Recent advances in brain connectivity methods have made it possible to identify hubs – the brain’s most globally connected regions. Such regions are essential for coordinating brain functions due to their connectivity with numerous regions with a variety of specializations. Current structural and functional connectivity methods generally agree that default mode network (DMN) regions have among the highest global brain connectivity (GBC). We developed two novel statistical approaches using resting state functional connectivity MRI – weighted and unweighted GBC (wGBC and uGBC) – to test the hypothesis that the highest global connectivity also occurs in the cognitive control network (CCN), a network anti-correlated with the DMN across a variety of tasks. High global connectivity was found in both CCN and DMN. The newly developed wGBC approach improves upon existing methods by quantifying inter-subject consistency, quantifying the highest GBC values by percentage, and avoiding arbitrary connection strength thresholding. The uGBC approach is based on graph theory and includes many of these improvements, but still requires an arbitrary connection threshold. We found high GBC in several subcortical regions (e.g., hippocampus, basal ganglia) only with wGBC despite the regions’ extensive anatomical connectivity. These results demonstrate the complementary utility of wGBC and uGBC analyses for the characterization of the most highly connected, and thus most functionally important, regions of the brain. Additionally, the high connectivity of both the CCN and the DMN demonstrates that brain regions outside primary sensory-motor networks are highly involved in coordinating information throughout the brain.

Cole M.W., Yeung N., Freiwald W., Botvinick M. (2009). "Cingulate cortex: Diverging data from humans and monkeys", Trends in Neurosciences 32(11): 566-574. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2009.07.001

Abstract (Cole, Yeung, Freiwald, & Botvinick 2009):
Cognitive neuroscience research relies, in part, on homologies between the brains of human and non-human primates. A quandary therefore arises when presumed anatomical homologues exhibit different functional properties. Such a situation has recently arisen in the case of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In humans, numerous studies suggest a role for ACC in detecting conflicts in information processing. Studies of macaque monkey ACC, in contrast, have failed to find conflict-related responses. We consider several interpretations of this discrepancy, including differences in research methodology and cross-species differences in functional neuroanatomy. New directions for future research are outlined, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing illusory cross-species differences from the true evolutionary differences that make our species unique.

Cole M.W., Schneider W. (2007). “The cognitive control network: Integrated cortical regions with dissociable functions”, NeuroImage 37(1): 343-360. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.03.071

Abstract (Cole & Schneider 2007):
Consensus across hundreds of published studies indicates that the same regions are involved in many forms of cognitive control. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we found that these coactive regions form a functionally connected cognitive control network (CCN). Network status was identified by convergent methods, including: high interregional correlations during rest and task performance, consistently higher correlations within the CCN than the rest of cortex, co-activation in a visual search task, and mutual sensitivity to decision difficulty. Regions within the CCN include anterior cingulate cortex / pre-supplementary motor area (ACC/pSMA), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), inferior frontal junction (IFJ), anterior insular cortex (AIC), dorsal pre-motor cortex (dPMC), and posterior parietal cortex (PPC). We used a novel visual line search task which included periods when the probe stimuli were occluded but subjects had to maintain and update working memory in preparation for the sudden appearance of a probe stimulus. The six CCN regions operated as a tightly coupled network during the ‘non-occluded’ portions of this task, with all regions responding to probe events. In contrast, the network was differentiated during occluded search. DLPFC, not ACC/pSMA, was involved in target memory maintenance when probes were absent, while both regions became active in preparation for difficult probes at the end of each occluded period. This approach illustrates one way in which a neuronal network can be identified, its high functional connectivity established, and its components dissociated in order to better understand the interactive and specialized internal mechanisms of that network.

Schumacher E.H., Cole M.W., D’Esposito M. (2007). “Selection and Maintenance of Stimulus-Response Rules during Preparation and Performance of a Spatial Choice-Reaction Task”, Brain Research 1136(1): 77-87.

Hester R., D’Esposito M., Cole M.W., Garavan H. (2007). “Neural mechanisms for response selection: comparing selection of an item with a response from working memory”, NeuroImage 34(1): 446-54.

Curtis C.E., Cole M.W., Rao V., Ollinger J., D’Esposito M. (2005). “Canceling Planned Action: An fMRI Study of Countermanding Saccades”, Cerebral Cortex 15(9): 1281-9.

Honors and Awards:

NeuroImage Editor’s Choice Award (2010), Methods and Modeling Section
For Cole et al. 2010, “Identifying the brain’s most globally connected regions”
Awarded by the editors of NeuroImage in acknowledgement of a study’s importance and high impact

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, 2005-2008 (Honorable Mention, 2004)
A three-year grant awarded to graduate students whose plans for research have “intellectual merit and beneficial implications for society”

National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Fellow, 2007
Awarded to science graduate students “who will pursue careers in research and education, with the interdisciplinary backgrounds, deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, and technical, professional, and personal skills to become, in their own careers, leaders and creative agents for change.”

Graduated with Highest Honors in Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley
Awarded highest honors based on significant contribution to a research project and high quality honors thesis as judged by professors Mark D’Esposito, M.D. and Robert Knight, M.D.

President of the Department of Neuroscience Graduate Student Organization (University of Pittsburgh, Fall 2006 – Fall 2007)

Cognitive Science Student Association of UC Berkeley (officer from Spring 2001 to Fall 2003)

Blog:

Neurevolution: Chronicling the Cognitive Revolution in Neuroscience


Poster Presentations:

Cole M.W., Yarkoni T., Repovs G., Braver T.S. (April, 2011). Flexible hubs: Global brain connectivity correlates of human intelligence. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.

Cole M.W., Etzel J.A., Zacks J.M., Braver T.S. (November, 2010). Independent and distributed coding of
task-set decision rules within prefrontal cortex. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.

Cole M.W., Anticevic A., Repovs G., Barch D. (August, 2010). Locus of dysconnectivity: Dorsolateral prefrontal connectivity correlates with the cardinal symptoms of schizophrenia. Poster presented at the Gordan Research Conference: Neurobiology of Cognition, Waterville Valley, NH.

Cole M.W., Bagic A., Kass R., Schneider W. (October, 2009). Rapid Task Learning as a Window into the Neural Basis of Executive Control. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL.

Cole M.W., Schneider W. (June, 2009). From Symbols to Rules to Complex Behaviors: The Neural Basis of Rapid Instructed Task Learning. Poster presented at Human Brain Mapping, San Francisco, CA.

Cole M.W., Pathak S., Schneider W. (June, 2009). Identifying the Brain’s Most Globally Interactive Regions. Poster presented at Human Brain Mapping, San Francisco, CA.

Cole M.W., Kunkel A., Martins B., Schneider W. (November, 2008). The Neural Basis of Rapid Instructed Task Learning. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC.

Pathak S.^*, Cole M.W.^*, Schneider W. (November, 2008). Identifying the Brain's Most Globally Interactive Regions. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC. ^*First two authors contributed equally

Cole M.W., Laurent P. (November, 2008). Neurevolution: An Example Of Blogging To Enhance Scientific Communication. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC.

Cole M.W., Martins B., Schneider W. (April, 2008). The Neural Basis of Rapid Instructed Task Learning. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.

Pathak S., Martins B., Cole M.W., Schneider W. (April, 2008). Anatomical and Functional Segmentation of the Cognitive Control Network: Supporting a preliminary cognitive control network connectome. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.

Cole M.W., Pathak S., Schneider W. (April, 2008). Medial Frontal Cortex Directs Attention along Multiple Pathways
to Resolve Perceptual Decision Difficulty. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.

Cole M.W., Schneider W. (June, 2007). Perceptual Decision Making Is Mediated by the Cognitive Control Network via ACC/pre-SMA to DLPFC Connectivity. Poster presented at Human Brain Mapping, Chicago, IL.

Cole M.W., Schneider W. (May, 2007). Causal Connectivity Within a Cognitive Control Network During Perceptual Decision Making. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, New York, NY.

Cole M.W., Schneider W. (June, 2006). Dissociation of anterior cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal, and premotor cortex during a visual search task reveals specialized roles within a commonly activated fronto-parietal network. Poster presented at Human Brain Mapping, Florence, Italy.

Schneider W., Siegle G., McHugo M., Gemmer L., Jones D., Fissell K., Koerbel L., Suzuki I., Jung K., Goldberg R., Wheeler M., Cole M.W., Hill N. (June, 2006). 2006 Pittsburgh Brain Activity Interpretation Competition: Inferring Experience Based Cognition from fMRI Data. Poster presented at Human Brain Mapping, Florence, Italy.

Cole M.W., Schneider W. (April, 2006). Dissociation of anterior cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal, and fronto-polar cortex during a visual search task reveals specialized roles within a commonly activated fronto-parietal network. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.

Schumacher E.H., Cole M.W., Singer A., D’Esposito M. (October, 2004). Distinguishing Response Selection Sub-processes with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.

Schumacher E.H., Cole M.W., Singer A., D’Esposito M. (April, 2004). Distinguishing Response Selection Sub-processes with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.

Curtis C.E., Cole M.W., Rao V., Ollinger J., D’Esposito M. (April, 2004). Canceling planned action: An fMRI study of countermanding saccades.  Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA.

Additional Resources

Statistical tools:
Causal Connectivity Toolbox - This toolbox implements 'causal connectivity analysis', based on Granger causality
StatDataML - Store data in a universal XML format
R - A free software environment for statistical computing and graphics
MATLAB - A commercial software environment for statistical computing and graphics

Functional neuroimaging analysis tools:
AFNI - Analysis of fMRI and PET (free)
SPM - Analysis of fMRI, PET, EEG, MEG (free)
BrainVoyager - Analysis of fMRI, PET, EEG, MEG (commercial)
MRIcron - Simple tool for visualizing structural and functional MRI data
MNE - Analysis of EEG and MEG
Talairach Daemon Applet - Look up the anatomical labels for talairach coordinates

Experimental stimuli:
t a r r l a b stimuli
Voice Neurocognition Laboratory

Methods:
fMRI Methods Wiki - A guide to best practices with fMRI (there is also an associated journal article)
MEG Wiki - Resources for those working with Elekta Neuromag MEG