Cortex-basal ganglia interaction and attractor states

We propose a set of hypotheses about how the basal ganglia contribute to in formation processing in cortical networks and how the cortex and basal gang lia interact during learning and behavior. We introduce a computational mod el on the level of system of networks. We suggest that the basal ganglia co ntrol cortical activity by pushing a local cortical network into a new attr actor state, thereby selecting certain attractors over others. The ideas of temporal difference learning and convergence of corticostriatal fibers fro m multiple cortical areas within the striatum are combined in a modular lea rning system capable of acquiring behavior with sequential structure. (C) 2 001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.