Research

I am interested in understanding the relationship between cognition and the brain from an information-processing point of view, asking questions such as “What are the fundamental computations needed for this task?” and “How can these computations be implemented within this specific brain circuit?”. In particular, I have been interested in the mechanisms that permit intelligent and adaptive behavior, with a particular focus on the interaction between prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia.

Recent Publications by Topic

Cognitive Architectures and Neuroscientific Data 

Steine-Hanos, Z. K., Koh, N., & Stocco, A. (in press). Refining the Common Model of Cognition Through Large Neuroscience Data. Procedia Computer Science.

Rice, P. J., & Stocco, A. (2018) Mechanisms of rule resolution in premotor cortex: A combined TMS/computational modeling study. In I. Juvina, C. Myers, and J. Houpt (Eds.), Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Cognitive Modeling, Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, pp. 108–113

Rice, P. J., & Stocco, A. (2018) Dorsal premotor cortex and conditional rule resolution: A high-frequency TMS investigation. In C. Kalish, M. Rau, J. Zhou, and T. T. Rogers (Eds.), Proceedings of the 40th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, pp. 944-949.

Stocco, A., Laird, J. Lebiere, C., & Rosenbloom, P. (2018). Empirical evidence from neuroimaging data for a Standard Model of the Mind. In C. Kalish, M. Rau, J. Zhou, and T. T. Rogers (Eds.), Proceedings of the 40th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society. Madison, WI, pp. 1094-1099.

Orr, M. G., Lebiere, C., Stocco, A., Pirolli, P., Pires, B., Kennedy, W. (2018) Multi-scale resolution of cognitive architectures: A paradigm for simulating minds and society. In H. Bisgin, A. Hyder, C. Dancy, & R. Thomson (Eds.) Proceedings of the International Conference SBP-BRiMS 2018, July 10-13, 2018 Washington, DC, Springer, pp. 3-15.

Basal Ganglia Function and Models

Stocco, A. (2018). A biologically-plausible action selection system for cognitive architectures: Implications of basal ganglia anatomy for learning and decision-making models. Cognitive Science, 42(2), 457-490.

Stocco, A. (2017). An integrated computational framework for attention, reinforcement learning, and working memory. The 2017 AAAI Fall Symposium Series. pp. 470-475. AAAI Press, Palo Alto, California.

Stocco, A., & Lebiere, C. (2014). Inhibitory synapses between striatal projection neurons support efficient enhancement of cortical signals: A computational model. Journal of Computational Neuroscience, 37, 65-80.

Stocco, A. (2012). Acetylcholine-based entropy in response selection: A model of how striatal interneurons modulate exploration, exploitation, and response variability in decision making. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 6, 18.

Stocco, A., Lebiere, C., O’Reilly, R. C., & Anderson, J. R. (2010). The role of the anterior prefrontal-basal ganglia circuit as a biological instruction interpreter. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, 221, 153-162.

Stocco, A., Lebiere, C., & Anderson, J. R. (2010). Conditional routing of information to the cortex: A model of the basal ganglia’s role in cognitive coordination. Psychological Review, 117(2), 540-574.

Basal Ganglia and Higher-Level Cognitive Functions

Stocco, A., Yamasaki, B. L., & Prat, C. S. (2018). Human performance across decision making, selective attention, and working memory tasks: Experimental data and computer simulations. Data in Brief, 17, 907-914.

Seo, R., Stocco, A., & Prat, C. S. (2018). The bilingual language network: Differential involvement of anterior cingulate, basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex in preparation, monitoring, and execution. NeuroImage. 174, 44-56.

Stocco, A., Murray, N., L. Yamasaki, B. L., Renno, T., J., Nguyen, J., & Prat, C. S. (2017). Individual differences in the Simon effect are underpinned by differences in competitive dynamics in the basal ganglia: An experimental verification and a computational model. Cognition, 164, 31-45.

Prat, C. S., Stocco, A., Neuhaus, E., & Kleinhans, N. (2016). Basal ganglia impairments lead to abnormal signal routing to prefrontal cortex in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuropsychologia, 91, 268-281.

Becker, T. M., Prat, C. S., & Stocco, A. (2016). A network-level analysis of cognitive flexibility reveals a differential influence of the anterior cingulate cortex in bilinguals versus monolinguals. Neuropsychologia, 85, 63-72.

Stocco, A., & Prat, C. (2014). Bilingualism trains specific brain circuits involved in flexible rule selection and application. Brain and Language, 137(10), 50-61.

Stocco, A., Yamasaki, B. L., Natalenko, R., & Prat, C. S. (2014). Bilingual brain training: A neurobiological framework of how bilingual experience improves executive function. International Journal of Bilingualism, 18, 66-91.

Prat, C. S., & Stocco, A. (2012). Information routing in the basal ganglia: Highways to abnormal connectivity in autism? Comment on “Disrupted cortical connectivity theory as an explanatory model for autism spectrum disorders” by Kana et al. Physics of Life Reviews, 9(1), 1-2.

Direct Brain-to-Brain Interfacing and Communication

Losey, D. M., Stocco, A., Abernethy, J. A., &. Rao, R. P. N. (2016). Navigating a 2D virtual world using direct brain stimulation. Frontiers in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, 3, 72.

Stocco, A., Prat. C.S., Losey, D. Cronin, J., Wu, J., Abernethy, J. A., & Rao, R. P. N. (2015). Playing 20 Questions with the Mind: Bi-Directional Communication with a Brain-to-Brain Interface. PLOS ONE, e0137303, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0137303

Rao, R. P. N., Stocco, A., Bryan, M., Sarma, D., Youngquist, T., Wu, J., & Prat, C. S. (2014). A direct brain-to-brain interface in humans. PLoS ONE 9(11), e111332. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0111332

Rao, R. N. P. & Stocco, A. (2014). When two brains connect. Scientific American Mind, 25(6), 36-39.