Article abstract
Nature Neuroscience 11, 693 - 702 (2008)
Published online: 18 May 2008 | Corrected online: 17 June 2008 | doi:10.1038/nn.2123
There is a Corrigendum (July 2008) associated with this Article.
Decision-making with multiple alternatives
Anne K Churchland1, Roozbeh Kiani1 & Michael N Shadlen1
Abstract
Simple perceptual tasks have laid the groundwork for understanding the neurobiology of decision-making. Here, we examined this foundation to explain how decision-making circuitry adjusts in the face of a more difficult task. We measured behavioral and physiological responses of monkeys on a two- and four-choice direction-discrimination decision task. For both tasks, firing rates in the lateral intraparietal area appeared to reflect the accumulation of evidence for or against each choice. Evidence accumulation began at a lower firing rate for the four-choice task, but reached a common level by the end of the decision process. The larger excursion suggests that the subjects required more evidence before making a choice. Furthermore, on both tasks, we observed a time-dependent rise in firing rates that may impose a deadline for deciding. These physiological observations constitute an effective strategy for handling increased task difficulty. The differences appear to explain subjects' accuracy and reaction times.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, National Primate Research Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Correspondence to: Anne K Churchland1 e-mail: anne99@u.washington.edu
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
The road least takenNature Neuroscience News and Views (01 Jun 2008)
When is enough enough?Nature Neuroscience News and Views (01 Jul 2006)
See all 6 matches for News And ViewsRESEARCH
Microstimulation of macaque area LIP affects decision-making in a motion discrimination taskNature Neuroscience Article (01 May 2006)
Cortico?basal ganglia circuit mechanism for a decision threshold in reaction time tasksNature Neuroscience Article (01 Jul 2006)
See all 68 matches for Research
