Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.06.17.156570v1?rss=1 Authors: Daws, R. E., Scott, G., Soreq, E., Leech, R., Hellyer, P., Hampshire, A. Abstract: We designed two novel fMRI paradigms to investigate how people self-optimise performance when managing competing demands. We hypothesised that the brain adopts distinct functional states to support different tasks, that switching between them involves a costly process of collapse and reconfiguration of the functional connectome, and that this process is optimised with practice. Accordingly, self-ordered switches (SOS) were associated with transient states of low-connectivity and high-activation. Individuals progressively improved their performance with practice. This learning behaviour was reflected by an ongoing redeployment of the neural resources supporting switching and routine behaviour. Furthermore, those who developed more structured behaviours also scored more points, showed a greater deepening of switching-dysconnectivity and a greater tuning of activity within dorsal frontoparietal cortex to switching events with practice. These results demonstrate that a fundamental property of human neurocognitive systems is concurrent self-optimisation to maximise behavioural outcomes and minimise the use of neural resources. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info