Novel two-alternative forced choice paradigm for bilateral vibrotactile whisker frequency discrimination in head-fixed mice and rats

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes M. Mayrhofer ◽  
Vida Skreb ◽  
Wolfger von der Behrens ◽  
Simon Musall ◽  
Bruno Weber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Times ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Frequency Discrimination ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Learning Rates ◽  
Behavioral Paradigm ◽  
Mystacial Vibrissae ◽  
Rats And Mice

Rats and mice receive a constant bilateral stream of tactile information with their large mystacial vibrissae when navigating in their environment. In a two-alternative forced choice paradigm (2-AFC), head-fixed rats and mice learned to discriminate vibrotactile frequencies applied simultaneously to individual whiskers on the left and right sides of the snout. Mice and rats discriminated 90-Hz pulsatile stimuli from pulsatile stimuli with lower repetition frequencies (10–80 Hz) but with identical kinematic properties in each pulse. Psychometric curves displayed an average perceptual threshold of 50.6-Hz and 53.0-Hz frequency difference corresponding to Weber fractions of 0.56 and 0.58 in mice and rats, respectively. Both species performed >400 trials a day (>200 trials per session, 2 sessions/day), with a peak performance of >90% correct responses. In general, rats and mice trained in the identical task showed comparable psychometric curves. Behavioral readouts, such as reaction times, learning rates, trial omissions, and impulsivity, were also very similar in the two species. Furthermore, whisking of the animals before stimulus presentation reduced task performance. This behavioral paradigm, combined with whisker position tracking, allows precise stimulus control in the 2-AFC task for head-fixed rodents. It is compatible with state-of-the-art neurophysiological recording techniques, such as electrophysiology and two-photon imaging, and therefore represents a valuable framework for neurophysiological investigations of perceptual decision-making.

Sensory evidence integration and action initiation occur in parallel during perceptual decisions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lluís Hernández-Navarro ◽  
Ainhoa Hermoso-Mendizabal ◽  
Daniel Duque ◽  
Alexandre Hyafil ◽  
Jaime de la Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Time Pressure ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Evidence Accumulation ◽  
Action Preparation ◽  
Action Model ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Evidence Integration ◽  
Action Initiation

It is commonly assumed that, during perceptual decisions, the brain integrates stimulus evidence until reaching a decision, and then performs the response. There are conditions, however (e.g. time pressure), in which the initiation of the response must be prepared in anticipation of the stimulus presentation. It is therefore not clear when the timing and the choice of perceptual responses depend exclusively on evidence accumulation, or when preparatory motor signals may interfere with this process. Here, we find that, in a free reaction time auditory discrimination task in rats, the timing of fast responses does not depend on the stimulus, although the choices do, suggesting a decoupling of the mechanisms of action initiation and choice selection. This behavior is captured by a novel model, the Parallel Sensory Integration and Action Model (PSIAM), in which response execution is triggered whenever one of two processes, Action Initiation or Evidence Accumulation, reaches a bound, while choice category is always set by the latter. Based on this separation, the model accurately predicts the distribution of reaction times when the stimulus is omitted, advanced or delayed. Furthermore, we show that changes in Action Initiation mediates both post-error slowing and a gradual slowing of the responses within each session. Overall, these results extend the standard models of perceptual decision-making, and shed a new light on the interaction between action preparation and evidence accumulation.

scholarly journals Proactive and reactive accumulation-to-bound processes compete during perceptual decisions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lluís Hernández-Navarro ◽  
Ainhoa Hermoso-Mendizabal ◽  
Daniel Duque ◽  
Jaime de la Rocha ◽  
Alexandre Hyafil
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Auditory Task ◽  
Decision Threshold ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Evidence Accumulation ◽  
Standard Models ◽  
Action Initiation

AbstractStandard models of perceptual decision-making postulate that a response is triggered in reaction to stimulus presentation when the accumulated stimulus evidence reaches a decision threshold. This framework excludes however the possibility that informed responses are generated proactively at a time independent of stimulus. Here, we find that, in a free reaction time auditory task in rats, reactive and proactive responses coexist, suggesting that choice selection and motor initiation, commonly viewed as serial processes, are decoupled in general. We capture this behavior by a novel model in which proactive and reactive responses are triggered whenever either of two competing processes, respectively Action Initiation or Evidence Accumulation, reaches a bound. In both types of response, the choice is ultimately informed by the Evidence Accumulation process. The Action Initiation process readily explains premature responses, contributes to urgency effects at long reaction times and mediates the slowing of the responses as animals get satiated and tired during sessions. Moreover, it successfully predicts reaction time distributions when the stimulus was either delayed, advanced or omitted. Overall, these results fundamentally extend standard models of evidence accumulation in decision making by showing that proactive and reactive processes compete for the generation of responses.

Cardiac Cycle Phase and Movement and Reaction Times

1976 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti J. Saari ◽  
Bruce A. Pappas
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cardiac Cycle ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Time Task

The EKG was recorded while Ss differentially responded to auditory or visual stimuli in a reaction time task. The EKG record was analyzed by dividing each R-R interval encompassing a stimulus presentation into 9 equal phases. Reaction times were determined as a function of the phase encompassing stimulus onset while movement times were determined for the phase in which the response was initiated. Only reaction time significantly varied with cardiac cycle, with reactions during the second phase being slower than later phases.

Unconscious and Conscious Processing of Color Rely on Activity in Early Visual Cortex: A TMS Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 819-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Railo ◽  
Niina Salminen-Vaparanta ◽  
Linda Henriksson ◽  
Antti Revonsuo ◽  
Mika Koivisto
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Single Pulse ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Conscious Perception ◽  
Unconscious Processing ◽  
Early Visual Cortex ◽  
Chromatic Processing

Chromatic information is processed by the visual system both at an unconscious level and at a level that results in conscious perception of color. It remains unclear whether both conscious and unconscious processing of chromatic information depend on activity in the early visual cortex or whether unconscious chromatic processing can also rely on other neural mechanisms. In this study, the contribution of early visual cortex activity to conscious and unconscious chromatic processing was studied using single-pulse TMS in three time windows 40–100 msec after stimulus onset in three conditions: conscious color recognition, forced-choice discrimination of consciously invisible color, and unconscious color priming. We found that conscious perception and both measures of unconscious processing of chromatic information depended on activity in early visual cortex 70–100 msec after stimulus presentation. Unconscious forced-choice discrimination was above chance only when participants reported perceiving some stimulus features (but not color).

Periodicity within Reaction Time Distributions and Electromyograms

1968 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Russell Harter ◽  
C. T. White
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Periodic Component ◽  
Considerable Variability ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Motor Processes ◽  
Sense Modality

This study investigates a periodic component in reaction time frequency distributions, that is, a tendency for responses to occur at regular, discrete intervals of time after stimulus presentation. Reaction time frequency distributions were plotted by a Computer of Average Transients and were obtained under stimulus conditions varying in sense modality stimulated (auditory and visual), and the intensity, colour, and duration of stimulation. The results indicated that there was periodicity in reaction time frequency distributions with a modal period of approximately 25 msec. It was found that the periodicty (a) was most evident when there was considerable variability in reaction time, and (b) tended to attenuate when a large number of reaction times were grouped. Other stimulus conditions appeared to have little effect on the periodicity. A significant correlation was found between the frequency of periodicity in the reaction time distributions and the electromyograms, both having a modal period of 25 msec. It was concluded that the periodicity in reaction time was the result of motor processes.

scholarly journals Rare Rewards Amplify Dopamine Learning Responses

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Rothenhoefer ◽  
Tao Hong ◽  
Aydin Alikaya ◽  
William R. Stauffer
Keyword(s):  
Probability Distributions ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Point Estimate ◽  
Prediction Errors ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Learning Rates ◽  
Behavioral Choices ◽  
Predicted Values

AbstractDopamine neurons drive learning by coding reward prediction errors (RPEs), which are formalized as subtractions of predicted values from reward values. Subtractions accommodate point estimate predictions of value, such as the average value. However, point estimate predictions fail to capture many features of choice and learning behaviors. For instance, reaction times and learning rates consistently reflect higher moments of probability distributions. Here, we demonstrate that dopamine RPE responses code probability distributions. We presented monkeys with rewards that were drawn from the tails of normal and uniform reward size distributions to generate rare and common RPEs, respectively. Behavioral choices and pupil diameter measurements indicated that monkeys learned faster and registered greater arousal from rare RPEs, compared to common RPEs of identical magnitudes. Dopamine neuron recordings indicated that rare rewards amplified RPE responses. These results demonstrate that dopamine responses reflect probability distributions and suggest a neural mechanism for the amplified learning and enhanced arousal associated with rare events.

scholarly journals Choosing and learning: outcome valence differentially affects learning from free versus forced choices

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérian Chambon ◽  
Héloïse Théro ◽  
Marie Vidal ◽  
Henri Vandendriessche ◽  
Patrick Haggard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Confirmation Bias ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Prediction Errors ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Positive Events ◽  
Learning Rates ◽  
Outcome Valence ◽  
Special Value ◽  
Computational Analyses ◽  
Robust Evidence

AbstractPositivity bias refers to learning more from positive than negative events. This learning asymmetry could either reflect a preference for positive events in general, or be the upshot of a more general, and perhaps, ubiquitous, “choice-confirmation” bias, whereby agents preferentially integrate information that confirms their previous decision. We systematically compared these two theories with 3 experiments mixing free- and forced-choice conditions, featuring factual and counterfactual learning and varying action requirements across “go” and “no-go” trials. Computational analyses of learning rates showed clear and robust evidence in favour of the “choice-confirmation” theory: participants amplified positive prediction errors in free-choice conditions while being valence-neutral on forced-choice conditions. We suggest that a choice-confirmation bias is adaptive to the extent that it reinforces actions that are most likely to meet an individual’s needs, i.e. freely chosen actions. In contrast, outcomes from unchosen actions are more likely to be treated impartially, i.e. to be assigned no special value in self-determined decisions.

scholarly journals Perceptual decisions about object shape bias visuomotor coordination during rapid interception movements

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah A. Barany ◽  
Ana Gómez-Granados ◽  
Margaret Schrayer ◽  
Sarah A. Cutts ◽  
Tarkeshwar Singh
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Eye Movements ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Ventral Stream ◽  
Perceptual Identification ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Visuomotor Coordination ◽  
Perceptual Decision

AbstractVisual processing in parietal areas of the dorsal stream facilitates sensorimotor transformations for rapid movement. This action-related visual processing is hypothesized to play a distinct functional role from the perception-related processing in the ventral stream. However, it is unclear how the two streams interact when perceptual identification is a prerequisite to executing an accurate movement. In the current study, we investigated how perceptual decision-making involving the ventral stream influences arm and eye movement strategies. Participants (N = 26) moved a robotic manipulandum using right whole-arm movements to rapidly reach a stationary object or intercept a moving object on an augmented-reality display. On some blocks of trials, participants needed to identify the shape of the object (circle or ellipse) as a cue to either hit the object (circle) or move to a pre-defined location away from the object (ellipse). We found that during perceptual decision-making, there was an increased urgency to act during interception movements relative to reaching, which was associated with more decision errors. Faster hand reaction times were correlated with a strategy to adjust the movement post-initiation, and this strategy was more prominent during interception. Saccadic reaction times were faster and initial gaze lags and gains greater during decisions, suggesting that eye movements adapt to perceptual demands for guiding limb movements. Together, our findings suggest that the integration of ventral stream information with visuomotor planning depends on imposed (or perceived) task demands.New and NoteworthyVisual processing for perception and for action are thought to be mediated by two specialized neural pathways. Using a visuomotor decision-making task, we show that participants differentially utilized online perceptual decision-making in reaching and interception, and that eye movements necessary for perception influenced motor decision strategies. These results provide evidence that task complexity modulates how pathways processing perception versus action information interact during the visual control of movement.

scholarly journals A race between Proactive and Reactive processes during perceptual decisions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lluís Hernández-Navarro ◽  
Ainhoa Hermoso-Mendizabal ◽  
Daniel Duque ◽  
Jaime de la Rocha ◽  
Alexandre Hyafil
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Auditory Task ◽  
Decision Threshold ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Evidence Accumulation ◽  
Standard Models ◽  
Reactive Processes ◽  
Action Initiation

Standard models of perceptual decision-making postulate that a response is triggered in reaction to stimulus presentation when the accumulated stimulus evidence reaches a decision threshold. This framework excludes however the possibility that informed responses are generated proactively at a time independent of stimulus. Here, we find that, in a free reaction time auditory task in rats, reactive and proactive responses coexist, suggesting that choice selection and motor initiation, commonly viewed as serial processes, are decoupled in general. We capture this behavior by a novel model in which proactive and reactive responses are triggered whenever either of two competing processes, respectively Action Initiation or Evidence Accumulation, reaches a bound. In both types of response, the choice is ultimately informed by the Evidence Accumulation process. By including the Action Initiation process, the model readily explains premature responses, urgency effects at long reaction times and the slowing of the responses as animals get satiated and tired during sessions. Moreover, it successfully predicts reaction time distributions when the stimulus was either delayed, advanced or omitted. Overall, these results fundamentally extend standard models of evidence accumulation in decision making by showing that proactive and reactive processes compete for the generation of responses.

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