Figure 4: Goals for control theory in cognitive control research.
In principle, we can focus on two relationships when linking control theory to cognitive control research. Schematically, (A,left) we should consider the relationship between control inputs and resulting neural activity. (A,right) We should also identify the relationships between neural activity and cognition, often measured using behavioral variables in cognitive control research – the lynchpin of cognitive neuroscience. Because neural activity joins the panels in (A), the system identification aspect of control theory will involve a focus on identifying equations that express neural dynamics’ natural and manipulable relationships with cognitive control behavioral output. (B) Notably, we can also be interested in effects directly from inputs to behavioral outputs in control theory. In each graph, the characteristic function will be associated with a noise profile, which limits our ability to uncover and exploit the basic input-output curves.