Neural correlates of decision-making during a Bayesian choice task.
Many critical decisions require evaluation of accumulated previous information and/or newly acquired evidence. Although neural correlates of belief updating have been investigated, how these neural processes guide decisions involving Bayesian choice is less clear. Here, we used functional MRI to investigate neural activity during a Bayesian choice task involving two sources of information: base rate odds ('odds') and sample evidence ('evidence'). Thirty-seven healthy control individuals performed the Bayesian choice task in which they had to make probability judgements. Average functional MRI activity during the trials where choice was consistent with use of Odds, use of Evidence, and use of Both was compared. Decision-making consistent with odds, evidence and both each strongly activated the bilateral executive network encompassing the bilateral frontal, cingulate, posterior parietal and occipital cortices. The Evidence consistent, compared with Odds consistent, decisions showed greater activity in the bilateral middle and inferior frontal and right lateral occipital cortices. Decisions consistent with the use of Both strategies were associated with increased activity in the bilateral middle frontal and superior frontal cortices. These findings support the conclusion that both overlapping and distinct brain regions within the frontoparietal network underlie the incorporation of different types of information into a Bayesian decision.
aSchool of Psychological Sciences, Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia bDepartment of Economics and the CERPA (Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis), Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina cESI (Economic Science Institute), Chapman University, Orange dDepartment of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA eIZA (Institute for the Study of Labor), Bonn, Germany.
Govinda R
GR
Poudel
Anjan
A
Bhattarai
David L
DL
Dickinson
Sean P A
SP
Drummond
D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult