Decoding and perturbing decision states in real time

In dynamic environments, subjects often integrate multiple samples of a signal and combine them to reach a categorical judgment.sup.1. The process of deliberation can be described by a time-varying decision variable (DV), decoded from neural population activity, that predicts a subject's upcomi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature 2021, Vol.591 (7851), p.604
Main Authors: Peixoto, Diogo, Verhein, Jessica R, Kiani, Roozbeh, Kao, Jonathan C, Nuyujukian, Paul, Chandrasekaran, Chandramouli, Brown, Julian
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Behavior
Decision tree
Decoding (Reading)
Macaques
Methods
Perturbation (Mathematics)
Physiological aspects
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Summary:In dynamic environments, subjects often integrate multiple samples of a signal and combine them to reach a categorical judgment.sup.1. The process of deliberation can be described by a time-varying decision variable (DV), decoded from neural population activity, that predicts a subject's upcoming decision.sup.2. Within single trials, however, there are large moment-to-moment fluctuations in the DV, the behavioural significance of which is unclear. Here, using real-time, neural feedback control of stimulus duration, we show that within-trial DV fluctuations, decoded from motor cortex, are tightly linked to decision state in macaques, predicting behavioural choices substantially better than the condition-averaged DV or the visual stimulus alone. Furthermore, robust changes in DV sign have the statistical regularities expected from behavioural studies of changes of mind.sup.3. Probing the decision process on single trials with weak stimulus pulses, we find evidence for time-varying absorbing decision bounds, enabling us to distinguish between specific models of decision making. In macaque motor cortex, moment-to-moment fluctuations in neurally derived decision variables are tightly linked to decision state and predict behavioural choices with better accuracy than condition-averaged decision variables or the visual stimulus alone, and can be used to distinguish between different models of decision making.
ISSN:0028-0836
DOI:10.1038/s41586-020-03181-9