Dezső Németh

Frontal theta synchronization facilitates the updating of statistical regularities, evidenced by predictive eye movements Abstract. Frontal midline theta oscillations are key neural markers for learning, set-shifting, and adaptive behavior, signaling cognitive control and the

New paper just published in Cerebral Cortex 🧠

Frontal midline theta synchronization causally supports updating statistical regularities, improving adaptive prediction without boosting simple performance.

doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf346

@orspesthy.bsky.social
#neuroskyence

New article in Cognitive Science
Statistical learning does not stay stable across childhood. Longitudinal data reveal a gradual developmental decline and growing individual differences. Methodology matters:
No process-pure tasks. No shortcuts without longitudinal data.

doi.org/10.1111/cogs...

On biological and artificial consciousness: A case for biological computationalism The rapid advances in the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) have galvanised public and scientific debates over whether artificial systems m…

🎊📜 NEW PAPER 📜🎊

Can we seriously build synthetic consciousness?
And if so, where do we start?

I’m super excited to present recent publication in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews where @jaanaru.bsky.social and I confront this challenge head on.

1/n

Our recent research on mind wandering is featured in Cerveau et Psycho, a French magazine on brain and cognition. Thanks, Thomas ;)

Article (FR): stm.cairn.info/magazine-cer...
#MindWandering #Neuroscience

@thomasandrillon.bsky.social

"Research will be shared exclusively outside traditional journals"

This is quite a statement!

It’s Time to Rethink the Academic Tenure Process Opinion | To fight the war on science, higher education needs to reimagine the most important career milestone for faculty.

This is a great piece by @cbo.bsky.social on the need to rethink tenure. undark.org/2025/09/11/o...

New preprint alert!

Cognitive maps are flexible, dynamic, (re)constructed representations

#psychscisky #neuroskyence #cognition #philsky 🧪

Come join us at 15:30 for the Learning and Memory II symposium at the Psychonomic Conference in Ballroom D! I’ll be speaking about the developmental trajectory of statistical learning. See you there! #Psychonomics #PSynom25

Come by our posters today at 6:00 PM at the Psychonomic Conference! #psynom25
We’ll be presenting three posters on statistical learning — would love to see you there!
@psychonomicsociety.bsky.social @orspesthy.bsky.social @florahann.bsky.social

No sex differences in predictive processing Statistical learning, defined as the implicit extraction of environmental regularities, is recognized as a universal and evolutionarily conserved mechanism, and constitutes a fundamental aspect of pre...

Our new preprint is out!

Across 473 participants, we found no sex differences in implicit statistical learning — a core mechanism of predictive processing.

The predictive brain appears remarkably universal.

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

#neuroscience
#learning
#PsychSciSky
#neuroskyence

New study
Our team shows that statistical learning & inhibitory control cooperate during behavior.

A flexible brain optimizes both automatic & controlled processes together - not either/or.

Preprint:Cooperative interaction between statistical learning and inhibitory control
doi.org/10.31234/osf...

YouTube video by Curt Jaimungal Your Brain Isn't Hardware Running Software

"Your Brain Isn't Hardware Running Software" | Clip of an interview with @anilseth.bsky.social and Michael Levin on Theories Of Everything

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzZl...

ADHD-like traits reshape the balance between inhibitory control and predictive processes Adaptive behavior relies on a dynamic balance between flexible, goal-directed control and efficient, automatic processes. This equilibrium is often disrupted in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorde...

New preprint!
ADHD-like traits don’t just affect inhibition or learning — they reshape their interaction.
A key problem in neuroscience is studying functions in isolation, but cognition emerges from their interplay.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...

#neuroscience
#learning
#PsychSciSky
#neuroskyence

Faster adult implicit probabilistic statistical learning following childhood adversity According to deficit models, early life adversity disrupts normal development, leading to long-term emotional, behavioural, and cognitive difficulties. However, some evidence suggests that certain psy...

Our new preprint is online.
People who experienced more childhood unpredictability show faster implicit statistical learning in adulthood.
Supports the “hidden talents” view of adversity.

Read here 👉 doi.org/10.1101/2025...

#neuroscience
#learning
#PsychSciSky
#neuroskyence

Conference on the Mechanisms of Statistical Learning and Predictive Brain Function - Gran Canaria Cognitive Research Center Conference on Mechanisms of Statistical Learning and Predictive Brain Function: Developmental, Clinical, and Intervention Perspectives October 20-24 - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainOrganized by Gra...

October 21-22: Conference on statistical learning in Spain
gccognitive.es/conference-2...

Meta-analytic evidence suggests no correlation between sleep spindles and memory

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Interesting to compare meta-analyses on sleep spindles & memory. Ujma (2024) found no correlation. The latest eLife meta also shows spindle amplitude not significantly tied to memory:CI [−0.04, 0.18]. But they also report hints about coupling. These processes are complex — it’s not just yes or no.

New podcast alert!

Check out the Brain Architects new lest episode wherever you listen!

#sleeppeeps

Curious about the human ability to extract regularities from sensory input (i.e., “statistical learning”) and individual differences therein? #CognitiveScience #Learning

Our #Consensus paper presents the collective insights of 27 researchers worldwide 🌎 💬 🌍 💬 🌏 💬:
🔗 doi.org/10.31234/osf...

Autistic traits relate to speed/accuracy trade-off but not statistical learning and updating - Scientific Reports Scientific Reports - Autistic traits relate to speed/accuracy trade-off but not statistical learning and updating

Excited to share our latest paper! We show that autistic traits are associated with a different speed-accuracy strategy when the environment changes. This highlights the power of a dimensional approach over rigid categorical views.
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
#Autism #Learning #StatisticalLearning

The interplay between executive functions and updating predictive representations - Scientific Reports Scientific Reports - The interplay between executive functions and updating predictive representations

Our new paper is out!
How do executive functions shape our ability to rewire habits / update predictive models?
✔️ Better inhibition = easier habit change
❌ Strong semantic fluency = harder to update old patterns because of the long-term memory access.

doi.org/10.1038/s415...

Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies Shift the Balance Between Competitive Neurocognitive Processes Theoretical models of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) propose that its symptoms stem from an imbalance between habitual and goal-directed processes, marked by a bias toward habitual behavior and d...

Our new preprint is out!
We go beyond studying goal-directed & habitual control in isolation — using an unsupervised learning approach to see how they interact.
OC tendencies tip the balance toward rigid habits over flexible goals.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#OCD #PsychSciSky
#StatsSky
#neuroskyence

Inhibiting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex selectively enhances unsupervised statistical learning The brain must balance the automatic extraction of environmental regularities with top-down cognitive control, yet the causal neural mechanisms governing this interplay are debated. In particular, the...

New preprint!

Inhibiting the right or both dorsolateral prefrontal cortices with rTMS boosts unsupervised statistical learning.
Likely by shifting toward a more exploratory processing style.
#PsychSciSky
#StatsSky
#neuroskyence
biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#neuroscience #predictiveprocessing

A functional trade-off between executive control and implicit statistical learning is dynamically gated by mind wandering Human cognition must balance goal-directed behavior with the need to learn from environmental regularities. Mind wandering (MW), a state of attentional decoupling from the task at hand, is paradoxical...

Our new preprint: Mind wandering is a cognitive trade-off.
Our study shows MW impairs executive control but BOOSTS implicit learning of hidden patterns. We found that the weaker the control, the greater the learning gain.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
#statisticallearning
#sleeppeeps #psychscisky

***🚨 New Paper 🚨***

Both #sleep and eyes-closed waking rest improve memory. But sleep also increases FALSE recall in some paradigms.

Q: Does eyes-closed rest similarly increase false recall?

A: No.

Free access link:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lYgb3qNaA...

#sleeppeeps #psychscisky 🧠🟦

Our latest research on mind wandering just got covered by Scientific American — check it out!

If you're an international PhD student at Harvard working on learning and memory in cognitive neuroscience or psychology—and your visa has been cancelled—don’t lose hope. Get in touch with me. I’m confident we can find you an inspiring place to continue your research and thrive.

Must read

A Wandering Mind Improves Inferential Learning Leverage the power of the spontaneously wandering mind to enhance learning, problem-solving, and creativity.

Our recent study on mind wandering and local sleep has received additional media coverage.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/expe...

#predictiveprocessing #Neuroscience #statisticallearning #cognition

✈️ I'm still recovering from jetlag but had a great time at #SRCD2025!

Thrilled about our symposium on cognitive control and statistical learning. @nemeth.bsky.social and Rachel Foster gave fantastic talks—Rachel did amazingly well for her 1st conference and will soon be on the job market!