title: Subthalamic nucleus stimulation reverses mediofrontal influence over decision threshold.
abstract: It takes effort and time to tame one's impulses. Although medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is broadly implicated in effortful control over behavior, the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is specifically thought to contribute by acting as a brake on cortico-striatal function during decision conflict, buying time until the right decision can be made. Using the drift diffusion model of decision making, we found that trial-to-trial increases in mPFC activity (EEG theta power, 4-8 Hz) were related to an increased threshold for evidence accumulation (decision threshold) as a function of conflict. Deep brain stimulation of the STN in individuals with Parkinson's disease reversed this relationship, resulting in impulsive choice. In addition, intracranial recordings of the STN area revealed increased activity (2.5-5 Hz) during these same high-conflict decisions. Activity in these slow frequency bands may reflect a neural substrate for cortico-basal ganglia communication regulating decision processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. jim.f.cav@gmail.com
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cavanagh
authors.forename: Thomas V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Wiecki
authors.forename: Michael X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D003700:Delta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004056:Differential Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology