Despite the multidimensional and temporally fleeting nature of auditory signals we quickly learn to assign novel sounds to behaviorally relevant categories. The neural systems underlying the learning and representation of novel auditory categories are far from understood. Current models argue for a rigid specialization of hierarchically organized core regions that are fine-tuned to extracting and mapping relevant auditory dimensions to meaningful categories. Scaffolded within a dual-learning systems approach, we test a competing hypothesis: the spatial and temporal dynamics of emerging auditory-category representations are not driven by the underlying dimensions but are constrained by category structure and learning strategies. To test these competing models, we used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to assess representational dynamics during the feedback-based acquisition of novel non-speech auditory categories with identical dimensions but differing category structures: rule-based (RB) categories, hypothesized to involve an explicit sound-to-rule mapping network, and information integration (II) based categories, involving pre-decisional integration of dimensions via a procedural-based sound-to-reward mapping network. Adults were assigned to either the RB (n = 30, 19 females) or II (n = 30, 22 females) learning tasks. Despite similar behavioral learning accuracies, learning strategies derived from computational modeling and involvements of corticostriatal systems during feedback processing differed across tasks. Spatiotemporal multivariate representational similarity analysis revealed an emerging representation within an auditory sensory-motor pathway exclusively for the II learning task, prominently involving the superior temporal gyrus (STG), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and posterior precentral gyrus. In contrast, the RB learning task yielded distributed neural representations within regions involved in cognitive-control and attentional processes that emerged at different time points of learning. Our results unequivocally demonstrate that auditory learners’ neural systems are highly flexible and show distinct spatial and temporal patterns that are not dimension-specific but reflect underlying category structures and learning strategies.

尽管听觉信号具有多维和短暂的性质，但我们很快学会了将新的声音分配给与行为相关的类别。新听觉类别的学习和表示背后的神经系统还远未被理解。当前的模型主张对分层组织的核心区域进行严格的专业化，这些区域经过微调以提取相关的听觉维度并将其映射到有意义的类别。在双学习系统方法中，我们测试了一个相互竞争的假设：新兴听觉类别表示的空间和时间动态不受潜在维度驱动，而是受到类别结构和学习策略的限制。为了测试这些竞争模型，我们使用功能磁共振成像 (fMRI) 来评估在基于反馈获取具有相同维度但不同类别结构的新型非语音听觉类别期间的表征动态：基于规则的 (RB) 类别，假设涉及明确的声音-规则映射网络和基于信息集成 (II) 的类别，涉及通过基于过程的声音到奖励映射网络对维度进行预决策集成。成人被分配到任一 RB ( 涉及通过基于程序的声音到奖励映射网络对维度进行预决策集成。成人被分配到任一 RB ( 涉及通过基于程序的声音到奖励映射网络对维度进行预决策集成。成人被分配到任一 RB (n  = 30, 19 名女性) 或 II ( n = 30, 22 名女性）学习任务。尽管行为学习的准确性相似，但在反馈处理过程中源自计算建模和皮质纹状体系统参与的学习策略因任务而异。时空多变量表征相似性分析揭示了听觉感觉运动通路中的一种新兴表征，专门用于 II 学习任务，主要涉及颞上回 (STG)、额下回 (IFG) 和中央前后回。相比之下，RB 学习任务在涉及认知控制和注意过程的区域内产生分布式神经表征，这些区域出现在不同的学习时间点。