Similar neural mechanisms for perceptual guesses and free decisions

When facing perceptual choices under challenging conditions we might believe to be purely guessing. But which brain regions determine the outcome of our guesses? One possibility is that higher-level, domain-general brain regions might help break the symmetry between equal-appearing choices. Here we...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2013-01, Vol.65, p.456-465
Main Authors: Bode, Stefan, Bogler, Carsten, Haynes, John-Dylan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Brain - physiology
Brain Mapping
Decision making
Decision Making - physiology
Free decisions
Functional MRI
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Guessing
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Masks
Multivariate pattern classification
Noise
Precuneus
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:When facing perceptual choices under challenging conditions we might believe to be purely guessing. But which brain regions determine the outcome of our guesses? One possibility is that higher-level, domain-general brain regions might help break the symmetry between equal-appearing choices. Here we directly investigated whether perceptual guesses share brain networks with other types of free decisions. We trained an fMRI-based pattern classifier to distinguish between two perceptual guesses and tested whether it was able to predict the outcome of similar non-perceptual choices, as in conventional free choice tasks. Activation patterns in the medial posterior parietal cortex cross-predicted free decisions from perceptual guesses and vice versa. This inter-changeability strongly speaks for a similar neural code for both types of decisions. The posterior parietal cortex might be part of a domain-general system that helps resolve decision conflicts when no choice option is more or less likely or valuable, thus preventing behavioural stalemate. ► Medial parietal activation patterns cross-predict free decisions and guesses. ► These results speak for a similar neural code for both types of decisions. ► Medial parietal cortex might be part of a system that resolves decision conflict.
ISSN:1053-8119
1095-9572
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.09.064