Intermittent subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation induces risk-aversive behavior in human subjects.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neurobiology

Background:

• The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is primarily known for motor control within the basal ganglia.
• Its role in human cognitive functions, particularly decision-making under uncertainty, remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the function of the STN in mediating human decisions under uncertainty.
• To explore the STN's involvement in cognitive processes beyond motor control.

Main Methods:

• Utilized single-neuron recordings in human subjects during a financial decision-making task.
• Employed intermittent deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the STN.
• Analyzed neural activity during high-uncertainty trials.

Main Results:

• STN single-neuron activity during high-uncertainty trials encoded upcoming decisions within a 500 ms window before the choice.
• Intermittent DBS applied before the choice period altered decision-making.
• DBS biased subjects towards more conservative wager choices.

Conclusions:

• The STN is implicated in encoding and influencing decisions under uncertainty in humans.
• These findings extend the known functions of the STN beyond motor inhibition.
• The STN may play a critical role in risk assessment and behavioral choices in uncertain environments.