Attention, reward, and information seeking.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Decision Science

Background:

• Decision-making models typically focus on evidence accumulation to a fixed threshold.
• Natural decision-making involves active evidence gathering, including when and what to sample.
• The control of eye movements (saccades) in guiding future actions remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on how sensory information is selected during active decision-making.
• To explore the roles of basal ganglia and cortical mechanisms in information selection.
• To identify key factors guiding saccade control for future actions.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent symposium evidence.
• Synthesis of findings on basal ganglia and cortical involvement.
• Analysis of factors influencing information selection and saccade guidance.

Main Results:

• Information selection is an active process, not just passive evidence accumulation.
• Basal ganglia and cortical circuits are implicated in selecting sensory information.
• Decisions to sample information are driven by expected gains in reward and information (uncertainty reduction).

Conclusions:

• Saccade control is integral to active decision-making and information gathering.
• Reward and information gains are central factors guiding active information sampling.
• Understanding these mechanisms provides insights into natural behavior and cognitive control.