When the choice is ours: context and agency modulate the neural bases of decision-making.
The option to choose between several courses of action is often associated with the feeling of being in control. Yet, in certain situations, one may prefer to decline such agency and instead leave the choice to others. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we provide evidence that the neural processes involved in decision-making are modulated not only by who controls our choice options (agency), but also by whether we have a say in who is in control (context). The fMRI results are noteworthy in that they reveal specific contributions of the anterior frontomedian cortex (viz. BA 10) and the rostral cingulate zone (RCZ) in decision-making processes. The RCZ is engaged when conditions clearly present us with the most choice options. BA 10 is engaged in particular when the choice is completely ours, as well as when it is completely up to others to choose for us which in turn gives rise to an attribution of control to oneself or someone else, respectively. After all, it does not only matter whether we have any options to choose from, but also who decides on that.
Forstmann
Birte U
BU
Amsterdam Center for the Study of Adaptive Control in Brain and Behaviour, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.u.forstmann@uva.nl
Wolfensteller
Uta
U
Derrfuss
Jan
J
Neumann
Jane
J
Brass
Marcel
M
Ridderinkhof
K Richard
KR
von Cramon
D Yves
DY
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013850:Thinking; D013997:Time Factors