title: The neural representation of unexpected uncertainty during value-based decision making.
abstract: Uncertainty is an inherent property of the environment and a central feature of models of decision-making and learning. Theoretical propositions suggest that one form, unexpected uncertainty, may be used to rapidly adapt to changes in the environment, while being influenced by two other forms: risk and estimation uncertainty. While previous studies have reported neural representations of estimation uncertainty and risk, relatively little is known about unexpected uncertainty. Here, participants performed a decision-making task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which, in combination with a Bayesian model-based analysis, enabled us to separately examine each form of uncertainty examined. We found representations of unexpected uncertainty in multiple cortical areas, as well as the noradrenergic brainstem nucleus locus coeruleus. Other unique cortical regions were found to encode risk, estimation uncertainty, and learning rate. Collectively, these findings support theoretical models in which several formally separable uncertainty computations determine the speed of learning.
authors.affiliation: Australian School of Business, School of Banking and Finance, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. elise@elisepayzan.com
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Payzan-LeNestour
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossaerts
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: O'Doherty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012945:Social Values; D035501:Uncertainty