scholarly journals Binocular rivalry reveals an out-of-equilibrium neural dynamics suited for decision-making

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Cao ◽  
Alexander Pastukhov ◽  
Stepan Aleshin ◽  
Maurizio Mattia ◽  
Jochen Braun
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Feedback Inhibition ◽  
Neural Dynamics ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Equilibrium Dynamics ◽  
Visual Evidence ◽  
Multistable Perception ◽  
Normative Constraints

In ambiguous or conflicting sensory situations, perception is often ‘multistable’ in that it perpetually changes at irregular intervals, shifting abruptly between distinct alternatives. The interval statistics of these alternations exhibits quasi-universal characteristics, suggesting a general mechanism. Using binocular rivalry, we show that many aspects of this perceptual dynamics are reproduced by a hierarchical model operating out of equilibrium. The constitutive elements of this model idealize the metastability of cortical networks. Independent elements accumulate visual evidence at one level, while groups of coupled elements compete for dominance at another level. As soon as one group dominates perception, feedback inhibition suppresses supporting evidence. Previously unreported features in the serial dependencies of perceptual alternations compellingly corroborate this mechanism. Moreover, the proposed out-of-equilibrium dynamics satisfies normative constraints of continuous decision-making. Thus, multistable perception may reflect decision-making in a volatile world: integrating evidence over space and time, choosing categorically between hypotheses, while concurrently evaluating alternatives.

scholarly journals Instability with a purpose: how the visual brain makes decisions in a volatile world

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Cao ◽  
Alexander Pastukhov ◽  
Stepan Aleshin ◽  
Maurizio Mattia ◽  
Jochen Braun
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Feedback Inhibition ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Cortical Networks ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Visual Evidence ◽  
Multistable Perception ◽  
Normative Constraints

AbstractIn ambiguous or conflicting sensory situations, perception is often ‘multistable’ in that it changes abruptly at irregular intervals, shifting perpetually between distinct alternatives. Intriguingly, the interval statistics of these alternations exhibits quasi-universal characteristics, suggesting a general mechanism. Here we show that the stereotypical features of multistable perception, exemplified by binocular rivalry, are reproduced in detail by a hierarchical dynamics operating out of equilibrium. Its constitutive elements are discretely stochastic and idealize the metastability of cortical networks. Independent elements accumulate visual evidence at one level, while groups of coupled elements compete for dominance at another level. As soon as one group dominates perception, feedback inhibition suppresses supporting evidence. This mechanism is corroborated compellingly by unexpected serial dependencies of perceptual alternations. Moreover, it satisfies normative constraints of continuous decision-making. We conclude that multistable perception reflects decision-making in a volatile world: integrating evidence over space and time, choosing categorically between hypotheses, while concurrently evaluating alternatives.

scholarly journals Can binocular rivalry reveal neural correlates of consciousness?

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1641) ◽  
pp. 20130211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randolph Blake ◽  
Jan Brascamp ◽  
David J. Heeger
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Neural Dynamics ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Neural Correlate ◽  
Neural Correlates Of Consciousness ◽  
Neural Correlate Of Consciousness

This essay critically examines the extent to which binocular rivalry can provide important clues about the neural correlates of conscious visual perception. Our ideas are presented within the framework of four questions about the use of rivalry for this purpose: (i) what constitutes an adequate comparison condition for gauging rivalry's impact on awareness, (ii) how can one distinguish abolished awareness from inattention, (iii) when one obtains unequivocal evidence for a causal link between a fluctuating measure of neural activity and fluctuating perceptual states during rivalry, will it generalize to other stimulus conditions and perceptual phenomena and (iv) does such evidence necessarily indicate that this neural activity constitutes a neural correlate of consciousness? While arriving at sceptical answers to these four questions, the essay nonetheless offers some ideas about how a more nuanced utilization of binocular rivalry may still provide fundamental insights about neural dynamics, and glimpses of at least some of the ingredients comprising neural correlates of consciousness, including those involved in perceptual decision-making.

scholarly journals Single units and conscious vision

1998 ◽  
Vol 353 (1377) ◽  
pp. 1801-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
N. K. Logothetis
Keyword(s):  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Visual Awareness ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Binocular Fusion ◽  
Neural Representations ◽  
Multistable Perception ◽  
Visual Areas ◽  
Psychophysical Studies

Figures that can be seen in more than one way are invaluable tools for the study of the neural basis of visual awareness, because such stimuli permit the dissociation of the neural responses that underlie what we perceive at any given time from those forming the sensory representation of a visual pattern. To study the former type of responses, monkeys were subjected to binocular rivalry, and the response of neurons in a number of different visual areas was studied while the animals reported their alternating percepts by pulling levers. Perception–related modulations of neural activity were found to occur to different extents in different cortical visual areas. The cells that were affected by suppression were almost exclusively binocular, and their proportion was found to increase in the higher processing stages of the visual system. The strongest correlations between neural activity and perception were observed in the visual areas of the temporal lobe. A strikingly large number of neurons in the early visual areas remained active during the perceptual suppression of the stimulus, a finding suggesting that conscious visual perception might be mediated by only a subset of the cells exhibiting stimulus selective responses. These physiological findings, together with a number of recent psychophysical studies, offer a new explanation of the phenomenon of binocular rivalry. Indeed, rivalry has long been considered to be closely linked with binocular fusion and stereopsis, and the sequences of dominance and suppression have been viewed as the result of competition between the two monocular channels. The physiological data presented here are incompatible with this interpretation. Rather than reflecting interocular competition, the rivalry is most probably between the two different central neural representations generated by the dichoptically presented stimuli. The mechanisms of rivalry are probably the same as, or very similar to, those underlying multistable perception in general, and further physiological studies might reveal a much about the neural mechanisms of our perceptual organization.

scholarly journals Novel Inferences in a Multidimensional Social Network Use a Grid-like Code

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seongmin A. Park ◽  
Douglas S. Miller ◽  
Erie D. Boorman
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Entorhinal Cortex ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Cognitive Map ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Temporoparietal Junction ◽  
Flexible Behavior ◽  
Discrete Problems

ABSTRACTGeneralizing experiences to guide decision making in novel situations is a hallmark of flexible behavior. It has been hypothesized such flexibility depends on a cognitive map of an environment or task, but directly linking the two has proven elusive. Here, we find that discretely sampled abstract relationships between entities in an unseen two-dimensional (2-D) social hierarchy are reconstructed into a unitary 2-D cognitive map in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. We further show that humans utilize a grid-like code in several brain regions, including entorhinal cortex and medial prefrontal cortex, for inferred direct trajectories between entities in the reconstructed abstract space during discrete decisions. Moreover, these neural grid-like codes in the entorhinal cortex predict neural decision value computations in the medial prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction area during choice. Collectively, these findings show that grid-like codes are used by the human brain to infer novel solutions, even in abstract and discrete problems, and suggest a general mechanism underpinning flexible decision making and generalization.

scholarly journals Age-dependency in binocular rivalry is reflected by exclusive percepts, not mixed percepts

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elahe Arani ◽  
Raymond van Ee ◽  
Richard van Wezel
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Other ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Neural Factors ◽  
Inhibitory Interactions

AbstractSome aspects of decision-making are known to decline with normal aging. One of the known perceptual decision-making processes which is vastly studied is binocular rivalry. It is well-established that the older the person, the slower the perceptual dynamics. However, the underlying neurobiological cause is unknown. So, to understand how age affects visual decision-making, we investigated age-related changes in perception during binocular rivalry. In binocular rivalry, the image presented to one eye competes for perceptual dominance with the image presented to the other eye. Perception during binocular rivalry consists of alternations between exclusive percepts. However, frequently, mixed percepts with combinations of the two monocular images occur. The mixed percepts reflect a transition from the percept of one eye to the other but frequently the transitions do not complete the full cycle and the previous exclusive percept becomes dominant again. The transitional idiosyncrasy of mixed percepts has not been studied systematically in different age groups. Previously, we have found evidence for adaptation and noise, and not inhibition, as underlying neural factors that are related to age-dependent perceptual decisions. Based on those conclusions, we predict that mixed percepts/inhibitory interactions should not change with aging. Therefore, in an old and a young age group, we studied binocular rivalry dynamics considering both exclusive and mixed percepts by using two paradigms: percept-choice and percept-switch. We found a decrease in perceptual alternation Probability for older adults, although the rate of mixed percepts did not differ significantly compared to younger adults. Interestingly, the mixed percepts play a very similar transitional idiosyncrasy in our different age groups. Further analyses suggest that differences in synaptic depression, gain modulation at the input level, and/or slower execution of motor commands are not the determining factors to explain these findings. We then argue that changes in perceptual decisions at an older age are the result of changes in neural adaptation and noise.

scholarly journals The effect of different imaging techniques for the visualisation of evidence in court on jury comprehension

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 1451-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Errickson ◽  
H. Fawcett ◽  
T. J. U. Thompson ◽  
A. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
3D Imaging ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Technical Language ◽  
Photographic Images ◽  
Visual Evidence ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
3D Printed

AbstractEvidence presented within a courtroom should be clear so that the members of the jury can understand it. The presentation of distressing images, such as human remains, can have a negative effect on the jury since photographic images may evoke emotional responses. Therefore, it is important to understand how other visual mediums may improve comprehension, bias, or distress individuals. For this study, 91 individuals were randomly assigned one of three visual evidence formats in a mock courtroom exercise. These included photographs, 3D visualisations, or a 3D-printed model. The results show that the use of 3D imaging improves the juror’s understanding of technical language used within a courtroom, which in turn better informs the juror’s in their decision-making.

Simulated neural dynamics of decision-making in an auditory delayed match-to-sample task

2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shihua Wen ◽  
Antonio Ulloa ◽  
Fatima Husain ◽  
Barry Horwitz ◽  
José L. Contreras-Vidal
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Neural Dynamics ◽  
Match To Sample

Are journal clubs effective in supporting evidence-based decision making? A systematic review. BEME Guide No. 16.

2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Harris ◽  
Karen Kearley ◽  
Carl Heneghan ◽  
Emma Meats ◽  
Nia Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Journal Clubs ◽  
Evidence Based Decision Making

Visual Evidence Landscapes: Reducing Bias in Collaborative Intelligence Analysis

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maia B. Cook ◽  
Harvey S. Smallman
Keyword(s):  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Intelligence Analysis ◽  
Equal Proportion ◽  
Supportive Evidence ◽  
Basic Study ◽  
Decision Bias ◽  
Significant Bias ◽  
Visual Evidence ◽  
Applied Design ◽  
Collaborative Intelligence

Two new approaches for mitigating the confirmation bias are proposed and evaluated in the domain of collaborative intelligence analysis. Trainee Naval intelligence analysts and reservists (N=27) role-played analysts working 10 problems, taking one of two different collaborative roles across problems. Each problem's hypothesis had an equal proportion of supporting and refuting evidence. Participants chose and prioritized a subset of available evidence that would be most important in evaluating a particular hypothesis. Bias manifested itself as selecting or prioritizing a skewed subset of supporting evidence to focus on or share. Two new low-workload debiasing methods were evaluated. First, supporting or refuting evidence was laid out graphically, instead of in text. Second, other analysts shared their interpretations of evidence, instead of analysts having to interpret the evidence on their own. Results showed a significant bias to focus on and share confirming evidence across all conditions. The highest ranked evidence was also the most supportive evidence. However, bias was reduced for problems worked with the graphical evaluation format for one collaborative role. Also, participants were less biased to accept hypotheses for problems worked in a graphical format when they had interpreted the evidence-hypothesis relationship themselves. These results have implications for the basic study of decision bias (conflating support and importance) and applied design of systems that help to reduce bias.

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