Predictive learning enables compositional representations

The brain builds predictive models to plan future actions. These models generalize remarkably well to new environments, but it is unclear how neural circuits acquire this flexibility. Compositional representations, which have been observed in the brain, could explain this adaptability. They enable a process called compositional generalization, where independent modules performing different computations can be selected to perform novel composite tasks. In this work, we show that compositional representations emerge in recurrent neural networks (RNNs) trained solely to predict future sensory inputs. We trained an RNN to predict frames in a visual environment defined by independent latent factors and their corresponding dynamics. We found that the network learned to solve this task by developing a compositional model. Specifically, it had disentangled representations of the latent factors, and formed distinct, modular clusters, each implementing a single dynamic. The network autonomously selected which cluster to use according to the sensory inputs, without task labels, using competitive dynamics between clusters. This modular and disentangled architecture enabled the network to perform compositional generalization, accurately predicting outcomes in novel contexts composed of unseen combinations of dynamics. Our findings explain how an unsupervised mechanism can learn the modular causal structure of an environment in a compositional code.