title: The cognitive and neural basis of option generation and subsequent choice.
abstract: Decision-making research has thoroughly investigated how people choose from a set of externally provided options. However, in ill-structured real-world environments, possible options for action are not defined by the situation but have to be generated by the agent. Here, we apply behavioral analysis (Study 1) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (Study 2) to investigate option generation and subsequent choice. For this purpose, we employ a new experimental task that requires participants to generate options for simple real-world scenarios and to subsequently decide among the generated options. Correlational analysis with a cognitive test battery suggests that retrieval of options from long-term memory is a relevant process during option generation. The results of the fMRI study demonstrate that option generation in simple real-world scenarios recruits the anterior prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, we show that choice behavior and its neural correlates differ between self-generated and externally provided options. Specifically, choice between self-generated options is associated with stronger recruitment of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. This impact of option generation on subsequent choice underlines the need for an expanded model of decision making to accommodate choice between self-generated options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Zurich University Hospital of Psychiatry, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032, Zürich, Switzerland, stefan.kaiser@puk.zh.ch.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Joe J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalis
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: Philippe N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Tobler
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mojzisch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen