Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Observational Learning

Observational Learning

Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...

The Nativist Approach

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...

Steps in the Modeling Process

Steps in the Modeling Process

Albert Bandura's theory of observational learning identifies four critical processes: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and reinforcement or motivation.
Attention is the first necessary component for observational learning. It involves focusing on what the model is doing and saying. For example, if you decide to take a drawing class to enhance your skills, you need to pay close attention to the instructor's words and hand movements. The characteristics of the model significantly...

Introduction to Learning

Introduction to Learning

Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through practice or experience, leading to long-lasting behavioral changes. This acquisition occurs through interaction with the environment and requires practice or experience. For instance, mastering a skill such as surfing requires considerable practice and experience, highlighting the essential role of repeated interactions with the environment in learning.
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...

Hierarchy of Motor Control

Hierarchy of Motor Control

The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A neural mechanism for online discovery of latent contexts.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Working Memory of Multi-Object Scenes in Primate Frontal Cortex.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Circuit explained: How does a transformer perform compositional generalization.

PloS one·2026

Same author

Evidence accumulation from experience and observation in the cingulate cortex.

Nature·2026

Same author

Diverse animal models in systems neuroscience: Expanding perspectives.

Current opinion in neurobiology·2025

Same author

Computational basis of hierarchical and counterfactual information processing.

Nature human behaviour·2025

Same journal

A large brain adds new types of neurons: Molecular and functional signatures of spindle neurons in the human neocortex.

Trends in neurosciences·2026

Same journal

Exercise as a regulator of glymphatic function.

Trends in neurosciences·2026

Same journal

The neural basis of laughter.

Trends in neurosciences·2026

Same journal

Enteric neuroimmune interactions in health and disease.

Trends in neurosciences·2026

Same journal

Atomic insights into the physiological and functional diversity of NMDA receptors.

Trends in neurosciences·2026

Same journal

Cognitive functions of the GPe.

Trends in neurosciences·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another

Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another

Published on: September 18, 2017

A Network Perspective on Sensorimotor Learning.

Hansem Sohn¹, Nicolas Meirhaeghe², Rishi Rajalingham¹

¹McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Trends in Neurosciences

|December 22, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a new framework to understand brain learning, connecting synaptic changes to neural populations and behavior. It explores principles of sensorimotor learning across multiple scales.

Keywords:

dimensionality internal models neural plasticity neural population sensorimotor learning state space framework

More Related Videos

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice

Published on: March 4, 2014

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Published on: December 2, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another

Using Virtual Reality to Transfer Motor Skill Knowledge from One Hand to Another

Published on: September 18, 2017

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice

Study Motor Skill Learning by Single-pellet Reaching Tasks in Mice

Published on: March 4, 2014

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Published on: December 2, 2022

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Computational Biology

Background:

Learning involves changes at individual synapses, as established by Cajal.
Recent advances emphasize the role of complex neural population interactions in learning.
A gap exists in understanding learning across different scales, from synapses to behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a conceptual framework bridging synaptic, neuronal, and behavioral scales of learning.
To explore principles guiding sensorimotor learning across these scales.
To provide a foundation for future research in learning and memory.

Main Methods:

Development of a conceptual framework.
Exploration of principles using the proposed framework.
Integration of knowledge from synaptic plasticity to systems neuroscience.

Main Results:

A unified framework is proposed to connect micro- and macro-level learning mechanisms.
Key principles governing sensorimotor learning across scales are elucidated.
The framework facilitates understanding of how neural populations contribute to behavioral adaptation.

Conclusions:

Bridging scales is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of learning.
The proposed framework offers a novel perspective on sensorimotor learning.
This work lays the groundwork for future experimental and theoretical investigations into brain plasticity and learning.