A task-independent neural representation of subjective certainty in visual perception.
Am I really sure? This is a question not only scientists ask themselves but practically everybody every day. A recent study provides behavioral evidence supporting the view that one's subjective confidence in a decision (i.e., feeling sure that a decision is correct) is represented in a task-independent format. Previous neuroimaging studies identified neural correlates of decision confidence but whether or not these are task-dependent remains unclear. Here, combining two perceptual decision tasks with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we provide neural evidence for a task-independent representation of degrees of subjective certainty (i.e., a neural representation of subjective certainty that remains constant across two visual tasks). Importantly, due to the constant stimulus-intensity used this result is independent of task-difficulty and stimulus properties. Our data provide strong evidence for a generic mechanism underlying the computation of subjective perceptual certainty in vision.
Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universitaet Berlin Berlin, Germany ; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt Graduate School, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin Berlin, Germany.
Johannes
J
Heereman
Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt Graduate School, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin Berlin, Germany ; Division of Mind and Brain Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Mitte, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany.
Henrik
H
Walter
Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universitaet Berlin Berlin, Germany ; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt Graduate School, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin Berlin, Germany.
Hauke R
HR
Heekeren
confidence; decision making; fMRI; perception; subjective certainty