Dynamics of Visual Perceptual Decision-Making in Freely Behaving Mice

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Animal Behavior
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• Perceptual decision-making dynamics offer insights into cognitive processes.
• Investigating these dynamics in animal models aids in understanding neural mechanisms.
• Mice offer a genetically tractable model for studying decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the temporal dynamics and psychophysical constants of visual perceptual decision-making in mice.
• To quantify the stages and durations involved in mouse visual decision-making.
• To establish a quantitative foundation for exploring the neural circuits underlying decision dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Mice performed two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC) orientation discrimination tasks.
• Response accuracy was analyzed against reaction time (RT), i.e., conditional accuracy.
• Stimulus parameters (size, luminance, duration, foil) and stimulus onset delay were varied.

Main Results:

• Two distinct stages were identified: sensory encoding (200-320 ms) and short-term memory (STM)-dependent (∼1700 ms).
• The briefest informative visual stimulus duration was ≤50 ms.
• Conditional accuracy function (CAF) and RT distribution were independently modulated; response withholding quantified impulsivity.

Conclusions:

• Mouse visual decision-making exhibits distinct temporal stages with quantifiable parameters.
• These findings provide a framework for investigating the neural basis of decision dynamics in mice.
• The study highlights the utility of mice as a model for understanding perceptual decision-making.