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The neural systems that mediate human perceptual decision making.
Hauke R Heekeren1, Sean Marrett, Leslie G Ungerleider
1Neurocognition of Decision Making Group, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany. heekeren@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Nature Reviews. Neuroscience
|May 10, 2008
Summary
Human brains interpret sensory evidence to make perceptual decisions. New neuroimaging methods link brain signals to these decisions, offering insights into the neural basis of choice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Decision Science
Background:
- Perceptual decision making involves interpreting sensory evidence to select actions.
- Understanding the neural mechanisms of human decision-making is a key research area.
- Previous work combined neurophysiology in monkeys with computational modeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review human neuroimaging findings on perceptual decision making.
- To explore data analysis methods linking brain signals and decisions.
- To present a new perspective on the neural basis of human perceptual decisions.
Main Methods:
- Review of human neuroimaging studies.
- Analysis of data analysis methods for trial-by-trial linking.
- Integration of findings from neurophysiology and computational modeling.
Main Results:
- Identification of key neuroimaging findings in human decision making.
- Demonstration of methods to directly correlate brain activity with decisions.
- Emergence of a novel framework for understanding the neural basis of perceptual decisions.
Conclusions:
- Human neuroimaging, combined with advanced analysis, provides direct links between brain signals and perceptual decisions.
- This approach offers a refined understanding of the neural computations underlying choice.
- The findings contribute to a new view of the neural basis of human perceptual decision-making.
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