Functional imaging of decision conflict.
Decision conflict occurs when people feel uncertain as to which option to choose from a set of similarly attractive (or unattractive) options, with many studies demonstrating that this conflict can lead to suboptimal decision making. In this article, we investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of decision conflict, in particular, the involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Previous studies have implicated the ACC in conflict monitoring during perceptual tasks, but there is considerable controversy as to whether the ACC actually indexes conflict related to choice, or merely conflict related to selection of competing motor responses. In a functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we dissociate the decision and response phases of a decision task, and show that the ACC does indeed index conflict at the decision stage. Furthermore, we show that it does so for a complex decision task, one that requires the integration of beliefs and preferences and not just perceptual judgments.
Pochon
Jean-Baptiste
JB
INSERM Avenir IFR70 and U610, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, F-75103 Paris, France.
Riis
Jason
J
Sanfey
Alan G
AG
Nystrom
Leigh E
LE
Cohen
Jonathan D
JD
D001931:Brain Mapping; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen