Source: pre-paper rough summary
Goals: Propose that pre-performance rituals can acquire retrieval value similar to context-based neural reinstatement when they are paired with training.

TL;DR: pre performance rituals (PPRs) are rituals one does before a skilled activity like free throws in basketball. Context based neural reinstatement is retrieval of encoding-time neural activity during reinstatement based on matching context cues. We propose that upon positive reaffirmation during training, PPRs tend to obtain some characteristics of context based neural reinstatement. ie, PPRs get a retrieval value similar to that developed over training time encoding.

Introduction

Existing work establishes that rituals can alter performance-related neural processing, while memory research establishes that contextual cues can facilitate retrieval and that retrieval can reinstate encoding-related neural representations. However, these literatures have rarely been integrated around the possibility that repeated components of performance routines become contextual retrieval cues for task states.

Abstract

Pre performance rituals are certain sensory, motor or emotional rituals that are taken before skilled performance. They have been shown to alter performance related neural processing.

Separately, research on contextual memory and neural reinstatement demonstrates that retrieval can be improved when contextual data present during encoding is reintroduced at retrieval.

Within this paper, we propose that these 2 mechanisms are partially distinct but may form an overlap through repeated co-incidence.

Major claims

  1. Context can improve retrieval by re-instating patterns of activation formed at time of encoding. Context can exist within both sensory and motor states.
  2. Pre performance rituals alter performance time neural processing. Hobson et al. (PMC5452956); PPRs used by athletes globally.
  3. PPRs and reinstatement may overlap, but they represent partially distinct mechanisms. PPRs work better on increasing the baseline value of the human model whereas reinstatement works on increasing processing retrieval / representation accessibility.

Major hypothesis

PPRs are built on consistent recurring sensory, temporal and motor features. Sensory context based retrieval has been shown to improve recall / neural state accuracy. When reinforced during training, PPRs may acquire retrieval value similar to that of context based retrieval, as they share many similar mechanisms of sensory, motor, and emotional context.

Predictions based on this:

  1. With positive training time inference, pre performance rituals might embody qualities of context based reinstatement.
  2. Matching training cue provides greater similarity with neural activity at encoding than mismatched cue / no cue conditions.

Theoretical hypothesis:

  1. A PPR is training dependent. One that is repeatedly paired through training produces stronger reinstatement than a PPR that is learnt but separately from the skill. Ex: using a basketball PPR would not have the same degree of reinstatement a football PPR has when playing football.
  2. Mismatched PPRs (as shown above) will produce a weaker neural pattern similarity.
  3. A new PPR can also work for neural state altering, but would not affect neural reinstatement unless trained.
  4. The stronger a PPR is paired with acquisition, the stronger its subsequent retrieval value.
  5. Ablations in sensory/motor components should reduce retrieval value.

Relevant work

PPRs

Context based neural reinstatement