Thermodynamic fluctuation theorems govern human sensorimotor learning

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 869
• Main Authors: Hack, P., Lindig-Leon, C., Gottwald, S., Braun, D. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17-01-2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/378/2629/1409; 631/378/2629/1788; Adaptation; Adaptation, Psychological; Energy; Equilibrium; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Learning; Movement; multidisciplinary; Rotation; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sensorimotor integration; Sensorimotor system; Statistical mechanics; Theorems; Thermodynamics; Utility functions
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27736-8

The application of thermodynamic reasoning in the study of learning systems has a long tradition. Recently, new tools relating perfect thermodynamic adaptation to the adaptation
process
have been developed. These results, known as fluctuation theorems, have been tested experimentally in several physical scenarios and, moreover, they have been shown to be valid under broad mathematical conditions. Hence, although not experimentally challenged yet, they are presumed to apply to learning systems as well. Here we address this challenge by testing the applicability of fluctuation theorems in learning systems, more specifically, in human sensorimotor learning. In particular, we relate adaptive movement trajectories in a changing visuomotor rotation task to fully adapted steady-state behavior of individual participants. We find that human adaptive behavior in our task is generally consistent with fluctuation theorem predictions and discuss the merits and limitations of the approach.