Temporal dynamics of decision making: A synthesis of computational and neurophysiological approaches

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Harris ◽  
Cendri A. Hutcherson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Temporal Dynamics

scholarly journals Uncovering the spatio-temporal dynamics of value-based decision-making in the human brain: a combined fMRI–EEG study

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1655) ◽  
pp. 20130473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Larsen ◽  
John P. O'Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Choice Task ◽  
Binary Choice ◽  
Intraparietal Sulcus ◽  
Trial Onset ◽  
Eeg Data ◽  
Spatio Temporal

While there is a growing body of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) evidence implicating a corpus of brain regions in value-based decision-making in humans, the limited temporal resolution of fMRI cannot address the relative temporal precedence of different brain regions in decision-making. To address this question, we adopted a computational model-based approach to electroencephalography (EEG) data acquired during a simple binary choice task. fMRI data were also acquired from the same participants for source localization. Post-decision value signals emerged 200 ms post-stimulus in a predominantly posterior source in the vicinity of the intraparietal sulcus and posterior temporal lobe cortex, alongside a weaker anterior locus. The signal then shifted to a predominantly anterior locus 850 ms following the trial onset, localized to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and lateral prefrontal cortex. Comparison signals between unchosen and chosen options emerged late in the trial at 1050 ms in dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, suggesting that such comparison signals may not be directly associated with the decision itself but rather may play a role in post-decision action selection. Taken together, these results provide us new insights into the temporal dynamics of decision-making in the brain, suggesting that for a simple binary choice task, decisions may be encoded predominantly in posterior areas such as intraparietal sulcus, before shifting anteriorly.

scholarly journals Interacting roles of lateral and medial Orbitofrontal cortex in decision-making and learning : A system-level computational model

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhargav Teja Nallapu ◽  
Frédéric Alexandre
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
System Level ◽  
Interacting Networks ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Experimental Findings

AbstractIn the context of flexible and adaptive animal behavior, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is found to be one of the crucial regions in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) influencing the downstream processes of decision-making and learning in the sub-cortical regions. Although OFC has been implicated to be important in a variety of related behavioral processes, the exact mechanisms are unclear, through which the OFC encodes or processes information related to decision-making and learning. Here, we propose a systems-level view of the OFC, positioning it at the nexus of sub-cortical systems and other prefrontal regions. Particularly we focus on one of the most recent implications of neuroscientific evidences regarding the OFC - possible functional dissociation between two of its sub-regions : lateral and medial. We present a system-level computational model of decision-making and learning involving the two sub-regions taking into account their individual roles as commonly implicated in neuroscientific studies. We emphasize on the role of the interactions between the sub-regions within the OFC as well as the role of other sub-cortical structures which form a network with them. We leverage well-known computational architecture of thalamo-cortical basal ganglia loops, accounting for recent experimental findings on monkeys with lateral and medial OFC lesions, performing a 3-arm bandit task. First we replicate the seemingly dissociate effects of lesions to lateral and medial OFC during decision-making as a function of value-difference of the presented options. Further we demonstrate and argue that such an effect is not necessarily due to the dissociate roles of both the subregions, but rather a result of complex temporal dynamics between the interacting networks in which they are involved.Author summaryWe first highlight the role of the Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) in value-based decision making and goal-directed behavior in primates. We establish the position of OFC at the intersection of cortical mechanisms and thalamo-basal ganglial circuits. In order to understand possible mechanisms through which the OFC exerts emotional control over behavior, among several other possibilities, we consider the case of dissociate roles of two of its topographical subregions - lateral and medial parts of OFC. We gather predominant roles of each of these sub-regions as suggested by numerous experimental evidences in the form of a system-level computational model that is based on existing neuronal architectures. We argue that besides possible dissociation, there could be possible interaction of these sub-regions within themselves and through other sub-cortical structures, in distinct mechanisms of choice and learning. The computational framework described accounts for experimental data and can be extended to more comprehensive detail of representations required to understand the processes of decision-making, learning and the role of OFC and subsequently the regions of prefrontal cortex in general.

Temporal Dynamics of Cognitive–Emotional Interplay in Moral Decision-making

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1018-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Sarlo ◽  
Lorella Lotto ◽  
Andrea Manfrinati ◽  
Rino Rumiati ◽  
Germano Gallicchio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Emotional Valence ◽  
Moral Decision Making ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Specific Number

This study investigated the temporal dynamics of emotional and cognitive processing underlying decision-making in moral judgment. Thirty-seven participants were presented with a set of 60 dilemmas varying in whether killing one individual was an intended means to save others (instrumental dilemmas) or a foreseen but unintended consequence (incidental dilemmas). Participants were required to decide between Options A (letting a specific number of people die) and B (killing one person to save a specific number of people). ERPs were recorded to a slide displaying the letters A and B while subjects were deciding between the options, and movement-related potentials were recorded time-locked to the behavioral response, thus allowing the investigation of both stimulus- and response-related processes during decision-making. Ratings of emotional valence and arousal experienced during decision-making were collected after each decision. Compared with incidental dilemmas, instrumental dilemmas prompted a lower number of B choices and significantly more unpleasant decisions. A larger P260 component was found in the frontopolar and frontal areas when subjects were deciding on instrumental than incidental dilemmas, possibly reflecting an immediate affective reaction during the early stage of assessment and formation of preferences between available options. On the other hand, decisions on incidental dilemmas required greater attentional resources during the fairly controlled later processing, as reflected in the larger slow wave amplitudes. In addition, facilitation of action selection and implementation was found for incidental dilemmas during the second stage of decision-making, as supported by the larger amplitudes of both components of the Bereitschaftspotential.

scholarly journals Interpreting temporal dynamics during sensory decision-making

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Aaron J Levi ◽  
Alexander C Huk
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Temporal Dynamics

scholarly journals MODELING GOAL-ORIENTED DECISION MAKING THROUGH COGNITIVE PHASE TRANSITIONS

2009 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 143-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT KOZMA ◽  
MARKO PULJIC ◽  
LEONID PERLOVSKY
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Phase Transitions ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Probabilistic Models ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Mathematical Tool ◽  
Neural Populations ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
High Level

Cognitive experiments indicate the presence of discontinuities in brain dynamics during high-level cognitive processing. Non-linear dynamic theory of brains pioneered by Freeman explains the experimental findings through the theory of metastability and edge-of-criticality in cognitive systems, which are key properties associated with robust operation and fast and reliable decision making. Recently, neuropercolation has been proposed to model such critical behavior. Neuropercolation is a family of probabilistic models based on the mathematical theory of bootstrap percolations on lattices and random graphs and motivated by structural and dynamical properties of neural populations in the cortex. Neuropercolation exhibits phase transitions and it provides a novel mathematical tool for studying spatio-temporal dynamics of multi-stable systems. The present work reviews the theory of cognitive phase transitions based on neuropercolation models and outlines the implications to decision making in brains and in artificial designs.

scholarly journals Decoding the neural dynamics of free choice in humans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Thiery ◽  
Anne-Lise Saive ◽  
Etienne Combrisson ◽  
Arthur Dehgan ◽  
Julien Bastin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Free Choice ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Motor Planning ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
List Type ◽  
High Gamma ◽  
Eeg Recordings

SummaryHow do we choose a particular action among equally valid alternatives? Non-human primate findings have shown that decision-making implicates modulations in unit firing rates and local field potentials (LFPs) across frontal and parietal cortices. Yet the electrophysiological brain mechanisms that underlie free choice in humans remain ill defined. Here, we address this question using rare intracerebral EEG recordings in surgical epilepsy patients performing a delayed oculomotor decision task. We find that the temporal dynamics of high gamma (HG, 60-140 Hz) neural activity in distinct frontal and parietal brain areas robustly discriminate free choice from instructed saccade planning at the level of single trials. Classification analysis was applied to the LFP signals to isolate decision-related activity from sensory and motor planning processes. Compared to instructed saccades, free choice trials exhibited delayed and longer-lasting HG activity. The temporal dynamics of these sustained decision-related responses distinguished deliberation-related from working memory processes. Taken together, these findings provide the first direct electrophysiological evidence in humans for the role of sustained high-frequency neural activation in fronto-parietal cortex in mediating the intrinsically driven process of freely choosing among competing behavioral alternatives.HighlightsFirst intracerebral recordings in humans performing an oculomotor decision-making taskMachine learning analytics unravel underlying spectral and temporal brain dynamicsFree choice trials exhibit sustained fronto-parietal high gamma (HG) activity during the delayMaking a decision and maintaining it in working memory are associated with distinct sustained HG dynamics

Planning for the redevelopment after a fire event

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew MacKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Fire Event ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Influences

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of planners and designers in supporting residents to negotiate the challenges of rebuilding after wildfire on the urban fringe. The research seeks to understand how planning and design professionals, in providing professional services, comprehend the changing expectations of residents transitioning from emergency to the slow process of achieving a post fire normal state through the project of redesigning their homes. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses semi-structured interviews to examine the role of planners and designers employed to facilitate and assess, or provide design services for residents who rebuilt houses after the 2003 bushfires in Canberra, Australia’s Capital City. Narrative analysis was used to identify emerging themes based on their professional experiences during the redevelopment of the suburb. Findings Case analysis shows that external influences were significant contributing factors in determining the design of houses rebuilt after the fires. The goal for both the designers and residents was to design a more sustainable built form; however, this was not achieved as external social and cultural influences came into the decision-making process. Practical implications The paper provides a different perspective on the competing goals planners and designers face in supporting residents to rebuild after disasters such as wild fires. It highlights the changing nature of the relationship between professionals and community. In particular, the research suggests planners can play an important role as observers and facilitators of long-term change occurring in the years after wildfire. The research provides insights into how planners and building designers may better serve the community by gaining a better understanding of the changing nature of redevelopment over time. Originality/value The research provides a novel approach to understanding the challenges facing planners and building designers working with residents to rebuild houses after wildfire. The paper makes the case for a better understanding of the temporal dynamics and external influences affecting decision making in post disaster redevelopment of homes.

scholarly journals The Temporal Dynamics of Cortical Normalization Models of Decision-making

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas LoFaro ◽  
Kenway Louie ◽  
Ryan Webb ◽  
Paul W. Glimcher
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Temporal Dynamics

scholarly journals Meeting the challenge of interacting threats in freshwater ecosystems: A call to scientists and managers

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura S. Craig ◽  
Julian D. Olden ◽  
Angela H. Arthington ◽  
Sally Entrekin ◽  
Charles P. Hawkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Economic Framework ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Testing Management ◽  
Management Approaches

Human activities create threats that have consequences for freshwater ecosystems and, in most watersheds, observed ecological responses are the result of complex interactions among multiple threats and their associated ecological alterations. Here we discuss the value of considering multiple threats in research and management, offer suggestions for filling knowledge gaps, and provide guidance for addressing the urgent management challenges posed by multiple threats in freshwater ecosystems. There is a growing literature assessing responses to multiple alterations, and we build off this background to identify three areas that require greater attention: linking observed alterations to threats, understanding when and where threats overlap, and choosing metrics that best quantify the effects of multiple threats. Advancing science in these areas will help us understand existing ecosystem conditions and predict future risk from multiple threats. Because addressing the complex issues and novel ecosystems that arise from the interaction of multiple threats in freshwater ecosystems represents a significant management challenge, and the risks of management failure include loss of biodiversity, ecological goods, and ecosystem services, we also identify actions that could improve decision-making and management outcomes. These actions include drawing insights from management of individual threats, using threat attributes (e.g., causes and spatio-temporal dynamics) to identify suitable management approaches, testing management strategies that are likely to be successful despite uncertainties about the nature of interactions among threats, avoiding unintended consequences, and maximizing conservation benefits. We also acknowledge the broadly applicable challenges of decision-making within a socio-political and economic framework, and suggest that multidisciplinary teams will be needed to innovate solutions to meet the current and future challenge of interacting threats in freshwater ecosystems.

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