Prefrontal meta-control incorporating mental simulation enhances the adaptivity of reinforcement learning agents in dynamic environments
JiHun Kim, Jee Hang Lee · Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience · 2025
Introduction Recent advances in computational neuroscience highlight the significance of prefrontal cortical meta-control mechanisms in facilitating flexible and adaptive human behavior. In addition, hippocampal function, particularly mental simulation capacity, proves essential in this adaptive process. Rooted from these neuroscientific insights, we present Meta-Dyna, a novel neuroscience-inspired reinforcement learning architecture that demonstrates rapid adaptation to environmental dynamics whilst managing variable goal states and state-transition uncertainties. Methods This architectural framework implements prefrontal meta-control mechanisms integrated with hippocampal replay function, which in turn optimized task performance with limited experiences. We evaluated this approach through comprehensive experimental simulations across three distinct paradigms: the two-stage Markov decision task, which frequently serves in human learning and decision-making research; stochastic GridWorldLoCA, an established benchmark suite for model-based reinforcement learning; and a stochastic Atari Pong variant incorporating multiple goals under uncertainty. Results Experimental results demonstrate Meta-Dyna's superior performance compared with baseline reinforcement learning algorithms across multiple metrics: average reward, choice optimality, and a number of trials for success. Discussions These findings advance our understanding of computational reinforcement learning whilst contributing to the development of brain-inspired learning agents capable of flexible, goal-directed behavior within dynamic environments.